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Planeta Winery Guide

Cellar Tours Insight — Since 2003, Cellar Tours has planned private wine journeys through the world’s leading wine regions, pairing tailor-made itineraries with VIP winery visits, fine dining, and expert regional guidance.

Winery Overview

Planeta Winery is one of the premier wine estates of Sicily and a veritable fine wine empire. The company has vineyards and estates all over the island of Sicily, including- the Ulmo Contrada and vineyards in Sambuca di Sicilia (their first winemaking facility and beautiful ancestral family home, located on the Arancio Lake); the Dispensa base in Menfi (where their high-end olive oils are also made nearby at the Capparina mill); the lovely Dorilli estate in Vittoria; the Buonivini vineyards and underground winery near the Baroque town of Noto; and the newest estate- Sciara Nuova in the fashionable and exciting fine wine region of volcanic Mount Etna.

Planeta was founded in the 1990s by cousins Alessio and Santi Planeta and their uncle Diego Planeta, who was already famous in Sicily for his trail-blazing role at the well-respected Settesoli wine cooperative decades before Planeta as we know it burst onto the wine scene. Diego’s daughter Francesca later joined the company and is known as a key integral figure. While relatively new as a commercial winery, the family’s beloved Ulmo estate dates back centuries. Today, it is a treat to visit its vast vineyards, ancient olive groves, and ruins of an Arab castle. Planeta has become almost as famous for its olive oils (made with the Nocellara del Belice and Biancolilla olives) as for its wines.

The groundbreaking winemaker of Planeta was the mythical Carlo Corino, who sadly passed away recently. Planeta gained much prestige and respect for innovating in matching local soil types to native Sicilian wine varietals and international grapes. Daring and open-minded winemaking (in a Mediterranean island that had become known for easygoing bulk wine) combined with the fabulous local terroirs was a recipe for success for pioneering Planeta. Their stunning Chardonnay was their first flagship wine to shake up the wine world. Not just any Chardonnay, this blockbuster astounded critics and wine lovers worldwide and still receives annual awards and recognition. Planeta is, in fact, regularly lauded in the winepress, and this year, they received an unprecedented eight Tre Bicchieri awards from the Gambero Rosso (called the Italian wine bible, definitely the definitive guide alongside Veronelli).

Planeta is a prominent patron of the arts and, in association with Nuvole Incontri d’Arte, launched an interesting annual project called Uomini e Luoghi (Men and Places). The concept is “artists and landscapes of Sicily.” During the wine harvest, the winery invites Italian and international artists to travel throughout Sicily to such breathtaking places as Modica and Ragusa. Then, the guests use the Ulmo estate as their studio to create various works of art, which are then exhibited locally and compiled in a beautiful annual publication.

Private Wine Tours in Sicily

Private Wine Tours in Sicily

Discover Sicily with private winery visits, superb volcanic wines, refined regional cuisine, ancient Greek sites, and elegant stays from Etna to the coast.

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Further Reading

Author

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Genevieve Mc Carthy

Genevieve, originally from San Diego, California, has spent the last 25 years living in Europe, primarily in Spain, Ireland, and Italy. She has a background in the wine industry, having worked for a top wine importer in Ireland and a prestigious winery in Italy's Franciacorta region. In 2003, Genevieve founded Cellar Tours, a boutique wine tours company based in Madrid, Spain. She holds wine education credentials from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) in London and has a strong network within the European wine industry. Genevieve's specializes in organizing VIP tours to exclusive wineries that are not accessible to the general public. With a passion for food and wine, fluency in multiple languages, and expertise in luxury travel and tourism, Genevieve has built a successful career in creating unique wine experiences.

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