A land shaped by eruptions and lava, a climate that knows no middle ground and prudence, a place where Nature knows how to be both a generous mother and a terrible despot. Ready to explore the territories of Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe? On these altitudes - challenging the centuries, the eruptions and the harshness of the ecosystem - the ancient vineyards with gnarled shoots, loaded with grapes with strong and austere flavors, rise from the ground and from the terraces that overcome the steep slopes.
 After having illustrated the types of Etna Doc, we recommend two areas - North East side and Central side - depending on whether you want to toast with Etna red or white wines.
ETna Red or White?
It seems that these lands knew the secrets and joys of the vine already in ancient times. Certainly, when we mention Etna wine, we are talking about the oldest Sicilian DOC and among the first to be regulated in Italy. For your information, the territory that produces the DOC, indicated by the production disciplinary, consists of 20 municipalities of the province of Catania: Biancavilla, Santa Maria di Licodia, Paternò, Belpasso, Nicolosi, Pedara, Trecastagni, Viagrande, Aci Sant'Antonio, Acireale, Santa Venerina, Giarre, Mascali, Zafferana, Milo, Sant'Alfio, Piedimonte, Linguaglossa, Castiglione, Randazzo.
But what are the DOC wines that you will enjoy tasting ? Etna red, Etna red reserve, Etna white, Etna superior white, Etna rosé, Etna sparkling wine.

• Etna red, with a beautiful ruby color and intense aroma, is produced with two native vines: nerello mascalese (minimum quantity 80%) and nerello cappuccino (maximum quantity 20%) or other suitable vines indicated by the specification (maximum quantity 10%); the flavor is robust and dry, perfect to be accompanied with a plate of medium-aged meats and cheeses.
•  Etna Rosso Riserva is a fine wine, produced with the same vines indicated for Etna Rosso but left to age for at least 4 years.
•  Etna Bianco, with a straw yellow color and with a delicate smell, is composed of the Carricante (minimum 60%), Cataratto (minimum 40%) vines, or with other white grape varieties permitted by the disciplinary (usually Minnella Bianca, Trebbiano or international vines with a maximum percentage of 15%); the flavor is dry and harmonious.
• The Etna white superior, produced exclusively in the municipality of Milo, is characterized by a greater longevity than other whites; it is allowed to produce it from Carricante vines (minimum 80%) and from white grape varieties permitted by the disciplinary (maximum percentage 20%); the flavor is dry and soft.
•  Etna rosé, with an intense smell and a dry but harmonious flavor, is produced with the "rosé" fermentation of red grapes (Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio), or with the fermentation of a mixture of red and white grapes, or with a mixture of red and white musts.
•  Sparkling Etna wine can be produced rosé or vinified in white, with refermentation in the bottle for at least 18 months; the smell is intense, the flavor full and harmonious.

North East side: The great reds
The Etna Wine Route is above all that of the great reds. Their excellence derives from the exceptional "pedoclimatic conditions" characterized by the minerality of the volcanic soil and the magnificent exposure of the terraces. To visit both the beauties of Etna and the local wineries where you can taste authentic excellence, you can enjoy a journey of discovery aboard the Wine Train where you will enjoy the charm not only of taste, but also of History; in fact, you will travel on a historic train that will take you from Riposto to Piedimonte Etneo, and from here to Randazzo.
From Randazzo, you will take the Wine bus along the Etna Wine Route, to discover two excellent wineries; the visit and the tasting are guided. The two wineries you will visit are those belonging to the circuit: Scilio, Vivera, Cantine Russo, Cottanera, Firriato, Palmento Costanzo, Tasca d'Almerita, Tornatore, Tenuta di Fessina, Fischetti, Antichi Vinai, Al-Cantàra, Destro, Terrazze dell'Etna, Cantine Madaudo, La Gelsomina. The tour takes place twice a week, every Thursday and Saturday; to consult the available dates and book the Wine Train, by purchasing tickets online, go to the website:https://www.stradadelvinodelletna.it/biglietti-online.
Remember that the reservation is mandatory, and must be made by 12.00 the day before the tour; moreover, the tour does not include lunch, so you will have to bring what you need with you or, in the 12.30 break that will take place in the historic village of Castiglione di Sicilia or Randazzo, you can ask the guide who accompanies you to recommend a good place, but be careful not to delay in dining, because at 3.00 pm you will have to resume the journey of taste. To reach Riposto, from where the circumetnea littorina departs, you can use the regional trains that leave from Catania station. Consult the timetables on www.trenitalia.it, selecting “Catania-Stazione Centrale” as the departure and “Giarre-Riposto” as the destination.
 As you will have understood, you will have to get up very early and leave the B&B Palazzo Speciale at least 20 minutes before the departure of your train for Riposto; The departure of the Wine Train from the Circumetnea station of Riposto takes place at 9.15 am.

South East side: the white wine of excellence
This area, especially the municipality of Milo, is known for the production of Etna white DOC, a wine, one of a kind; thanks to its excellent organoleptic properties, it also lends itself to aging. The particular organoleptic properties are due both to the pedoclimatic characteristics of this Etna area, and to the strong influence of the winds which, coming from the sea, allow the grapes to enjoy greater ventilation, therefore to be better preserved from mold and minerality; minerality which, in turn, connotes the wine of this area with a slight sapidity.
Also to visit this side, we recommend that you rent a car so that you can reach from Catania a company of excellence such as Terre di Costantino. Terre di Costantino is located in Viagrande, in via Garibaldi 417; this is the Blandano district, an area that has always been dedicated to wine production. There are two tours offered by the company: and Lunch in the cellar. The path Getting to know the cellar offers an overview of the vineyard which stands on a volcanic soil of about 10 hectares, of the cellar and the historic millstone. At a height of 500 meters above sea level you will feel the breeze blowing among the native vines of Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, Carricante, Catarratto and Minnella. The visit , lasting an hour and a half,  includes lessons on traditional winemaking and Etna stratigraphy through sections of the land. The tasting includes three wines, bread baked in a wood oven and organic Evo oil. Lunch in the Cellar lasts two and a half hours; offers, in addition to the tour Getting to know the cellar, lessons on modern winemaking and a visit to the cave of the roots. The tasting offers four types of wines, bread baked in a wood oven, organic Evo oil, platters of cheeses and local salami. To book a visit to the Terre di Costantino company, call 095434288 or write to info@terredicostantino.it.