Luxury Wine Tours Weekend in Taormina:
- Wine Tasting Mount Etna, Sicily
- Luxury Boutique Hotel Taormina
- Private Chauffeured Mercedes
Taormina is one of the most magical places in Italy! The enchanting town clings atop a steep lush hillside and hangs right over the sparkling Ionian Sea. The massive snowcapped Mount Etna looms in the horizon. Located on the Eastern coast of Sicily, north of Catania, Taormina is the jewel of the island. The village is full of delightful 18th century villas, charming cobblestoned laneways, high-end boutiques, antique shops, wine bars, perfumeries, and romantic ristoranti. You can enjoy dramatic sweeping views over the coastline’s beaches and coves from many nooks and corners in Taormina.
This beautiful and wealthy Sicilian town has a long and fascinating history. The Greeks founded trading colonies on the island as far back as 735BC and built wonderful towns such as Syracuse, Agrigento and indeed Taormina (then called Tauromenion). We can still enjoy the surprisingly preserved Ancient Greek Theatre of Taormina, perched overlooking the entire bay in a magnificent natural environment. Taormina was a rich trading center and eventually came under Roman rule and when Rome fell, became an important hub during the Sicilian Byzantine period. Later conquerors and inhabitants included the Arabs, Normans, Spanish, and French (under Napoleon) until finally Sicily was incorporated into greater Italy.
The architectural and gastronomic influences of so many cultures is evident today. For foodies and wine lovers, Taormina is a “must do” as it is home to some of the best restaurants in Sicily and on the doorstep of Mount Etna where some of the most exciting wines in Sicily are being produced. We have designed this luxurious new Taormina Wine Tours Weekend in Sicily for guests looking for gorgeous scenery, stunning food and wine, charming accommodation, and private driver guide. Contact us for more info on this unforgettable weekend.
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Taormina Wine Tours Weekend Day By Day Itinerary |
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Day One- Privately Guided Tour of Taormina & Dining at Top Local Restaurant |
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Taormina Detail
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- Arrive to Catania airport, and your own charming driver guide and Mercedes will be waiting for you. Transfer north to beautiful Taormina and settle into your luxurious boutique hotel, a converted small palazzo overlooking the sea.
- Take some free time to enjoy a glass of wine waiting for you in your room, have a siesta or a revitalizing bath (the hotel has wonderful bathtubs) and in the early evening your private guide will collect you at the hotel to take you on a “gourmet walking tour” of Taormina. Discover the most beautiful little shops and pick up some gifts such as Modica chocolate, Trapani sea salt, “Martorana” Fruit (made with Marzipan), fine olive oil, or perhaps some rare Sicilian wines from Pantelleria or the Aeolian islands.
- Your guide will take you to the best place in Taormina for some wonderful and sinful cannoli and a glass of bubbly, and you´ll finish with a visit to the stunning Ancient Greek Theatre at sunset.
- Tonight you have an outstanding welcome dinner waiting for you at one of Taormina´s gourmet havens, enjoy!
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Overnight: |
4* Luxury Boutique Hotel, Taormina |
Meals Included in Price: |
Gourmet snacks on tour, Full welcome dinner with wines, wine waiting in room |
Transfers: |
Catania airport- Taormina |
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Day Two - Wine Tasting on Mount Etna & Lunch in Traditional Restaurant |
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Wine Tasting Mount Etna
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- Today is a wonderful wine tasting excursion to volcanic Mount Etna! But first enjoy an outstanding breakfast at your hotel, one of the best breakfasts in Italy. Enjoy views over the sea while tucking into a fabulous breakfast with fresh squeezed Sicilian red- blood orange juice of course.
- From Taormina your driver will take you south towards the volcanic Mount Etna, a fertile paradise for winemaking and Sicily´s most exciting wine region at present. Apart from vineyards, the pretty countryside around Etna is home to abundant chestnut groves, peach and lemon trees, wild wisteria and artisan honey making. Local grape varieties in the interesting DOC Etna appellation include Carricante, Lucido, Catarratto, and Minnella Bianca (white); and Nerello Cappuccio and Nerello Mascalese (red). Nero d'Avola is also found in many cru reds. There are a multitude of fine producers here from trailblazing Benanti, high-end Tenuta delle Terre Nere, the friendly Murgo estate, the famed Cottanera and many more. The lead singer of Simply Red Mick Hucknall also has a cult wine here in Etna called Il Cantante (legendary Salvo Foti is his winemaker).
- You´ll visit two wonderful wineries and receive VIP private visits and superb tastings. Lunch will be in wine country of course and will feature delicious regional Sicilian specialties paired with excellent local wines. Arrive back to Taormina in the evening, and enjoy a relaxing night on your own with our suggestions.
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Overnight: |
4* Luxury Boutique Hotel, Taormina |
Meals Included in Price: |
Full breakfast, 2 winery visits, Traditional lunch paired with wines |
Transfers: |
Taormina- Etna wine country- Taormina |
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Day Three - Relax and Enjoy Taormina's Slow Pace & Spectacular Views |
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Luxurious Accommodation in Taormina
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- After a leisurely breakfast, today is yours to take in some sightseeing, shopping and dining on your own in glamorous Taormina. Enjoy a stroll up the Corso Umberto, the main pedestrianized thoroughfare in town and pick up some gourmet gifts and perhaps stop for a coffee and cannolo. Nip into the very pretty Duomo and enjoy the sea views from Piazza IX Aprile.
- Before lunch, enjoy an aperitif on the simply stunning terrace of the Grand Timeo, directly overlooking the sea and Etna. Bring the camera, as the views are breathtaking. Taormina has an array of restaurants, you are literally spoiled for choice, and depending on if you want something rustic and homey or chic and Michelin starred, we’ll make suggestions for you.
- In the afternoon, depending on the month, you could head down to beautiful Isola Bella for a swim in the Caribbean style waters. The area is now a protected nature reserve and is home to many different bird species.
- The evening is yours tonight with our suggestions for dining.
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Overnight: |
4* Luxury Boutique Hotel, Taormina |
Meals Included in Price: |
Full breakfast |
Transfers: |
None |
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Day Four - End of Tour |
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Gourmet Goodies in Taormina
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- Today your charming driver guide and comfie Mercedes will pick you up at your hotel in Taormina to transfer you to Catania airport. Depending on your flight time, we could also fit in some more sightseeing for example right in Catania´s historic center or in some nearby medieval villages.
- We hope you had a marvelous weekend and look forward to seeing you again!
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Meals Included in Price: |
Full breakfast |
Transfers: |
Airport transfer |
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What's Included:
- Accommodation for 3 nights in luxurious 4* Hotel
- 3 Full breakfasts
- Private Airport Transfers and all transfers as per the itinerary by luxury Mercedes and English speaking chauffeur
- Bottle of Italian wine in your room upon arrival
- 1 Welcome dinner with wines in Taormina
- 1 Guided walking tour of Taormina
- 1 Traditional lunch in Etna wine country
- 2 Private VIP winery visits and tastings
- 1 keepsake itinerary with maps and ample information on Italy, food and wine, and all locations visited
- All Local taxes
What's Not Included:
- Flights
- Meals and Drinks not Specified
- Personal Expenses such as Telephone, Minibar, etc
- Tips and Gratuities (Guides, Restaurants, etc)
- Travel Insurance (Strongly recommended)
- Cancellation Insurance
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Prices:
This is a SAMPLE TOUR ITINERARY. Please note that our chauffeured luxury tours have the following starting prices:
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2 People |
4 People |
6 People |
8 People |
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500-1000 euros per person per day |
450-850 euros per person per day |
400-800 euros per person per day |
375-750 euros per person per day |
- Final price depends on chosen style of accommodation and dining. Please contact us with your group size (minimum 2 guests, no maximum group size), travel dates and preferences and we will send you custom pricing.
- Discounts available for larger groups
- Please note that our tours are available upon demand for PRIVATE GROUPS and are not scheduled tours for mixed groups.
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More Information on Luxury Taormina Wine Tours Weekend:
If you are interested in this package, contact us today for more information. This tour can also be adapted for bigger groups with a substantial discount. All of our tours are available year round upon request for your private group of minimum 2 people. If you would like us to customize a luxury gourmet tour for you, contact us with your requirements, and we can send you a free itinerary and quote with no obligations. We organize cooking packages and wine tours from 1 day, to weekends to longer food and wine discoveries throughout Italy, Ireland, Portugal and Spain.
Email us at: info@cellartours.com
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“I know that Ritz-Carlton knows a lot about luxury experience and exceeding expectations but you and Cellar Tours could teach us a few things.”
Peter J. Watzka, Executive VP, Ritz Carlton
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