A Sicily wine tasting in Messina is not the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about what to do in the city. Messina is the third largest one in Sicily, and here you can enjoy the multi-style heritage of the city centre, whose masterpiece is undoubtedly the astronomical clock in Cathedral Square.
Accompanied by a Discover Messina Sicily tour guide you will know the history and the glorious past of the city since the Greek colonization going back to more than 2700 years ago. But the area is also characterized by attractive Messina beaches facing the Strait of Messina, the seat of many legends and ancient fishing traditions like the swordfish hunt. This is the perfect location to get relaxed on the soft sand admiring an amazing landscape.
Messina Sicily wine tasting with a view
Taking our Messina Sicily wine tasting tour and beach, after spending a couple of hours on Messina beaches, you can enjoy the unusual opportunity to visit one of the most famous Sicilian vineyards, located far off the city centre in a panoramic position, where you can experience the typical vegetation based on tasty grapes producing local Messina Sicilian wines, and admire an open view on the sea. You will try a Sicily wine tasting accompanied by other typical Sicilian products like cheese and salami, and homemade olives, bread, pickles and jams. You can taste some varieties of Sicilian wines, locally produced by the vinegrower.
The production of red wine “Faro” is typical of Messina area. It is a DOC wine, meaning that it obtained quality certification in 1976. These grapes originally were born along the hills around Messina, especially in the villages of Faro Superiore and Castanea: today this variety is produced also in the southern part of Messina where there is the agricultural school in San Placido Calonerò. The Sicilian vineyard’s grapes used for Faro DOC production are mainly Nerello Mascalese (45-60%), Nocera (5-10%) and Nerello cappuccio (15-30%). This tasty and robust red wine is the favourite one to accompany meat-based dishes, salami and during the happy hour.
Among Sicilian vineyards cultivated in the province of Messina, “Malvasia delle Lipari” is one of the best sweet Sicilian wines, produced in the archipelago of the Aeolian Islands and especially in Salina. This is the perfect wine to be served with Sicilian desserts and dry biscuits made with almonds or nuts. It is common to have a sip of Malvasia after dinner or after lunch as a dessert wine.
Among local Sicilian wines produced in Messina province, another popular one is named “Mamertino” and it is typical from Milazzo area. It is one of the most ancient wines of the island, renowned since Roman times: it was mentioned in De Bello Gallico as it was offered by Julius Caesar during the celebrations of his third consulship, between 58 and 50 b.C. Mamertino DOC is considered one of the most prestigious Sicilian vineyards and it is produced in two varieties, red and white.
In Messina area, it is possible to find DOC Sicilian wines coming from Mount Etna Volcano surroundings, as they are very widespread all over the island. Sicilian vineyards of Etna have very high quality because of the fertile soil rich in minerals.
Sicilian wines are common ingredients in typical dishes in traditional cookery, especially to be evaporated for fish-based meals (white wines) and meat-based recipes (red wines), giving more density and taste to genuine food.
Messina Sicily wine tasting tour and beach is a good opportunity to enjoy some of the best things in life: beach, Sicilian wines and traditional homemade food.
