In Sicily Island, we decided to take 48 hours at the eastern slops of Mount Etna. We had ourselves an Agritourism experience with Notto Stellate, which is part of the Etnella Vineyard; that produces nature wines and freshly pressed olive oil.
After exploring Siracusa and Noto, it was time to explore another UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is Mount Etna, and the natural reserve surrounding the volcano. Have you been to Sicily if you have not visited Mount Etna?
Travel from Noto to Mount Etna
First, we did take the AST bus from Noto to Catania Bus/Train Stain (1h 35min). Then we had a 30-minute wait at the train station in Catania, before going on to the local train 3858 Messina Centrale to Fiumefreddo (40 min). Then we had our lovely host Benoit picking us up at the train station. I would recommend a car if you have the confidence to drive in Sicily; if not, it is possible without a car, maybe a bit more hassle, that’s all. I’m used to traveling by public transport.
Day 1 Mount Etna
Etnella Vineyard Tour
Five hundred meters above sea level, we were transported between lush olive orchards in a tiny car. Then we were given a complete tour of the Etnellla Vineyard with the history of the land, grapes, and production. And a divine tasting of ripe plums right next to the grapes.
Benoit, the French sommelier, was visiting with his family but decided that Etnella was the new place to stick around. He wanted to see how the grapes and the wines are evolving and performing. Benoit was all about sharing his deep passion for wine and grapes for the next 48 hours.
We loved exploring the world of natural wine at Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe. Respect for nature and the connection with nature is an ongoing team for the Etnella vineyard. The main grapes for the red wine are the Nerello Mascalese and a smaller amount of Nerello Capuccio. Etnella wine is created by the nature method with spontaneous fermentation without adding any artificial yeasts.
Notto Stellate; Lush Hideaway in the Slops of Mount Etna
After our grand tour around the vineyard that was flourishing around some magnificent plum trees, we arrived at Notto Stellate, our nifty accommodation for the two next days. A great apartment with everything needed to make a comfortable living. Most important is the magic view of Sicily from above, we could see down to the sea and Taormina. Surrounded by a lush green garden and complete silence, was perfect after some hectic, but beautiful days around Siracusa and Noto.
Etnella Wine Tasting & Sicilian Dinner
We went for a full wine and dinner experience at Notto Stellate. Little did we know that Benoit was going to be the chef as well. We started with lovely antipasti; local cheese and meat — best of all, rich olive oil from the Etnella farm to put on the bread.
For the Secondi, we had some meat with seasonal vegetables. Our lovely chef did make an honest effort to make it right on the grill. The thin beef was not the best option to prepare on the grill. He was neither a chef but a sommelier. We were expecting a bit more for dinner, that’s why we had significant amounts of wine! Wine solves many problems. We focused on tasting the fine volcanic natural wine from Mount Etna produced by Etnella.
Etnella has wine from 500 to 1000 meters above sea level, and you can taste the difference in altitude and soil. Most of all, you will feel the volcanic levels, but also hints of red fruits, plum, black cherry blended to cinnamon, licorice, and mineral puffs. The taste is round and balanced with a hint of freshness in the mouth.
My favorite wine was Kaos, and it has a spontaneous fermentation in combination with three separate harvests, an early harvest, a ripe harvest, and a late harvest. At nose scents red fruits, plums, licorice, and cherries. Taste soft tannin with a cheeky freshness.
Day 2 Mount Etna
Dazzling Boat Cruise from Taormina
Afternoon cruise from Taormina and exploring the town from the coastline is maybe a less crowdy option. The houses look utterly stunning from the ocean point of view. And you can even see some neat architecture in some of the clips of Taormina. Our Captain was a charming old Sicilian man. The Captain had some great history and a glass of prosecco to keep up the good spirit on the boat. The Taormina boat cruise was perfect for our short time in the area.
Wine Night at Mount Etna
We were lucky to be a part of a local event in Presna. The event was created for the weekend with a Jazz band and of course, natural wine from Etnella. The event had lovely wine, cheese platters, and pleasant company from a friendly France couple that was also staying at Notto Stellate. The night involved a fizzing conversation about natural wine and how this trend is evolving in Europe. And also how our tasting was reflected from drinking wine from the old world and the new world.
Scenic Nature Hike at Mount Etna
Waking up at around 07.00, being mesmerized by the gloomy, mysterious atmosphere at sunrise. Everything is calm, and the day has just started to awaken Sicily for a new day of life. We are ready to begin our journey to reach the beginning of our Nature Hike at Mount Etna. After driving almost an hour uphill, we could see Mount Etna gloving in the distance with all her natural beauty. First exploring the lava caves than a two-hour hike in the utterly serene volcanic landscape of Mount Etna. I was enamored in this different nature with unique vegetation and black volcanic sand from Mount Etna, the Queen of Sicily.
If you are liking the Mount Etna experience and want to book it for your stay in Sicily: 1 night on Etna, dinner, wine & trekking
Notto Stellate is not a sponsored post. I loved their passion for Mount Etna, the Nature wine, and the care for nature. I wanted to share with you in case you wanted to have a great experience in Sicily.
Accommodation
We decided to stay at Notto Stellate, which was an amazing experience. Wonderful view of Sicily and also looking up to Etna, the queen of the Island. Another place, even with horses on sight, is this cute B&B Etna Ranch. A 48 hours stay in the slops of Mount Etna, is highly recommended when being in Sicily.
2 Comments
Hehe you should, it was an amazing experience!! 🙂
Ah, would love to do this. Love both wine, hiking with gorgeous sights and Italian food. Mmm. This post had me all hungry! =)