Monti Rossi Etna Wines — Attraction in Nicolosi

We headed out to the wine tasting just 5 minutes away - beautiful day, clear blue skies and for the first time, Etna is clearly visible, puffing away! We arrived at a small vineyard where the owner was waiting for us. The outdoor tables were set and ready. Soon a family arrived and they were seated. Our host was working alone and served two reds and a white along with an almost endless lovely meal, all made by hand, much of it by his wife and the rest prepared by local artisans to emphasize local foods and naturally grown and prepared vegetables! They also produce olive oil and he placed it on the table with some crusty bread.

His is a small farm with several plots that he farms in the near vicinity. One plot for red and another for white. The tasting was in the place where he grows the red vines. Olive trees are planted as well. In all, he has about 5 acres or so. He only has two employees during harvest which they do by hand in the early morning hours. The farm is all organic and no chemicals are used. The rich volcanic soil imparts minerals and nutrients for the specific types of grapes that are only grown here. When they harvest, the grapes are taken to a processed 20 kilometers away. There it is fermented, bottled and shipped all over the world! He took us into the vineyard where we saw the tiny grapes beginning to cluster on the vines. There were plastic bottles hanging intermittently in the vines. He explained that that in the bottles there was a cheap red wine used to trap some sort of butterfly that eats the grapes - an alternative to a pesticide.

We returned to our tables and continued to enjoy our meal. In all of our previous tastings, you get a taste - Sebastian left a white and red on our table and continued to pour more in our glasses! The grand finale of our meal was a prickly pear liqueur. We returned home, 2 1:2 hours later, stuffed and feeling no pain. A long nap was in order after this amazing meal and...

My wife and daughter and I shared a beautiful evening at Monte Rossi Vineyards. We were greeted by. Sebastian who it turns out as the owner of the Vineyard and the winemaker. The small area vineyard is located directly next to the Monti Rossi mountain and you can see how the recent fires burned directly up to the Vineyard.

Sebastian explained how he and his family and friends all stood there and fight the fire to keep it off of the grapevines. His passion for growing and tending to his grapes, is very evident, and the fact that he uses no chemicals makes it even more amazing. He will stand there for hours and tell you the story of his grave in the grave still life. It was one of those pleasant experience as we have ever had for a wine tasting or tour of a vineyard, yet it was also one of the smallest vineyards we have ever been. .

We could not recommend seeing his vineyard more to anyone. It was an amazing experience in a very lovely/personal evening with the Wine grower himself. To gently walk through the vineyards and see the grapes, growing, working, and his wife have been planting them for the past 12 years was truly special. To add to the evening, both the red and the white wines that we tried were amazing. We purchased a number of bottles on the spot and are now connecting to have wine sent back to United States.

If you are in the Nicolosi area, this is one winery tour an evening that should not be missed. It is absolutely essential in our opinion. We cannot think Sebastian and out for his time and patience with us in the stories that he told us. It will be something we take with us for a long time. Not to mention some of the most beautiful skies we have ever seen...

Three friends and I had a wonderful experience at Monti Rossi Etna vineyard! After a hike up Mount Etna, we were parched and famished and decided to look up the closest place for some food and good wine. I was able to book a reservation on their user friendly website in minutes. About a half an hour prior to our 6 pm reservation, Sebastiano reached out directly to let us know they were set up and ready for us. Their cozy villa is in the middle of their vineyard, fully equipped with everything needed for a full stay. We were greeted by Sebastiano and his wife, who prepared delicious traditional appetizers for us as he explained the region and unique wine making process. We were also fortunate to share our experience with a lovely couple who traveled from Spain to explore Sicily and to taste their various wines. After a glass of white and a few varieties of red wine, the conversation was cooking! I inquired about the bungalow and if it was for rent, and much to our surprise it is for rent all year round at a very affordable price. I will be returning in the summer with my wife and two boys to share this experience with them and to enjoy the beautiful scenery and Sebastiano’s wonderful hospitality! Five stars,...