Val di Noto Wine Region Voyage Tips and guide

The Val di Noto Wine Region is a winemaking area in south-eastern Sicily, covering parts of the provinces of Syracuse and Ragusa. It includes wine-producing areas around Noto, Pachino, Avola, Vittoria, and Chiaramonte Gulfi. The region encompasses several DOC zones and is characterised by rolling limestone hills, inland plateaus, and coastal plains, with wineries offering tastings, cellar visits, and rural accommodation.

The Val di Noto Wine Region occupies the rural areas of south-eastern Sicily, where vineyards form part of a broader agricultural landscape that also includes olive groves, citrus orchards and arable land. Wine production is mainly small- to medium-scale, with many wineries operating from working farms rather than purpose-built visitor centres.

Wine visits are typically arranged by appointment and are often combined with food tastings or meals. The region is primarily associated with red wines based on Nero d’Avola and Frappato, though white, rosé and sweet wines are also produced, particularly in coastal areas.

The limestone hills and inland plains contrast with Sicily’s volcanic wine zones and allow visitors to combine winery visits with nearby historic towns such as Noto, Ragusa and Modica. A car is generally required, as wineries are widely dispersed and public transport in rural areas is limited.

For orientation, wine labels in the region refer to several local DOC zones (Denominazione di Origine Controllata), an Italian quality system that links wine styles to specific areas and production rules. In Val di Noto, these include Vittoria, Noto, Eloro, Riesi and Siracusa. The region is also home to Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG, Sicily’s only DOCG designation, which represents the highest level in Italy’s classification system. For travellers, these names are best understood as guides to regional identity and typical wine styles rather than guarantees of quality or price.

The Val di Noto Wine Region is accessible by air, road, and rail, though reaching wineries in rural areas generally requires a car. Coastal towns and major centres are well connected, while inland wine areas are more dispersed.

The nearest airports are:

• Catania–Fontanarossa Airport (CTA) – Sicily’s busiest airport and the most convenient gateway to the region, with frequent domestic and international flights. It is about 1–2 hours by car from most parts of Val di Noto.
• Comiso Airport (CIY) – A smaller airport serving the Ragusa area, with limited but useful connections, particularly for destinations in the southern part of the region.

From both airports, car rental is widely available.

Rail and bus services connect the main towns of the region, including Noto, Syracuse, Ragusa, and Modica.

• Trenitalia operates regional train services along the eastern and southeastern coast.
• Regional bus companies provide connections between towns, though services can be infrequent outside major routes.

Public transport is suitable for reaching towns but is generally impractical for visiting wineries directly.

A car provides the greatest flexibility for exploring the Val di Noto Wine Region, particularly for visiting vineyards and rural estates. The A18 motorway links Catania with Syracuse, while state roads connect inland towns. Some rural roads are narrow, winding, or poorly lit, especially in hill areas, and driving times may be longer than expected.

Guided wine tours operate throughout the region and typically include transportation and winery visits. Tours usually depart from Trapani, Palermo, or nearby airports and should be booked in advance during the summer season.

• Wine Tasting Sicily – Single or multiple estate itineraries in Syracuse province.
• Winedering – Various itineraries around Ragusa province.

37°31′16″N 14°0′7″E

Map of Val di Noto Wine Region

• 36.76055615.0177781 Marabino, C.da Buonivini – 96017 Noto, ☏ +39 335 5284101. Vineyard visits, tastings and wine purchases available on weekdays. Advance booking required. 
• 36.7469615.0215852 Planeta Buonivini, Contrada Buonivini, 96017 Noto SR, Italy, ☏ +39 366 9636519. Wine tours available at the estate, located on a farm with an almond grove, carob trees and vineyards situated between Noto and Modica. Olive oil also available for purchase at the Buonivini wine shop.  
• 36.7700315.0774883 Feudo Maccari, Strada Provinciale 19 Noto–Pachino km 13.5, 96017 Noto SR, ☏ +39 345 6925843. Ninety-minute guided wine and cellar tour with tastings that include a light lunch or aperitivo. Tours available Mondays to Saturdays. Online reservations.  
• 36.7318815.112224 Vini Ramaddini, C.da Lettiera, Marzamemi (SR), ☏ +39 0931 1847100, [email protected]. Wine tours and tastings of the estate's organic wines at a vineyard site close to the coastal village of Marzamemi.  

• 37.0677714.681395 Gulfi Cantina, Contrada Patrìa, sn, 97012 Chiaramonte Gulfi RG, Italy, ☏ +39 345 6925843. Rooms, swimming pool, restaurant and wine tours on an estate producing wines from the Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG.  
• 37.03000914.521976 COS, S.P. 3 Acate–Chiaramonte, km 14.3, 97019 Vittoria RG, ☏ +39 0932 876145, [email protected]. Wine tastings available Mondays to Fridays by appointment. Olive oil also available for purchase.  
• 36.99011114.5451397 Arianna Occhipinti, SP68 Vittoria–Pedalino km 3.3, Vittoria RG, ☏ +39 0923 864411, [email protected]. Visits arranged Mondays to Fridays, including vineyard walks, cellar visits, and wine and olive oil tastings. Reservations required. 

• 37.46485513.916918 Tenute Lombardo, S.S. 122 km 50, C.da Cusatino, 93100 Caltanissetta, ☏ +39 0934 1935148, [email protected]. Family estate offering wine tastings accompanied by cunzato bread and farm produce, with views stretching from the Madonie to the coast near Licata.  

• 37.31989713.8251631 Baglio Bonsignore Estate, Contrada Giddio – Strada Statale 410 Dir, 92028 Naro AG, ☏ +39 335 7660491, [email protected]. Vineyard and cellar tours, picnics among the vines, or wine-paired meals on an estate situated about 20 km from the coast. Online reservations possible.  
• 36.8707915.0509032 Zisola Estate, Contrada Zisola, SNC, 96017 Noto SR, Italy, ☏ +39 0931 839288, [email protected]. Wine tastings and meals on a 50-hectare estate with vineyards as well as almond, citrus and olive groves, all with views of Noto.  

• 36.7837814.924051 Riofavara Vini, Contrada Favara, 97014 Ispica RG, ☏ +39 0932 705130, [email protected]. Winery with three guest rooms decorated with a viticulture theme, overlooking a garden or the nearby convent of Gesù. Wine tastings available by reservation.  
• 37.11453814.4143292 Feudi del Pisciotto, Contrada del Pisciotto, 93015 Niscemi CL, ☏ +39 0933 1935186, [email protected]. Winery, cellar, Michelin-rated restaurant and hotel accommodation in a historic rural setting.  
• 37.05529114.7005033 Chaza Occhipinti, Contrada Santa Margherita, 97012 Chiaramonte Gulfi RG, ☏ +39 329 045 9417, [email protected]. Two rural houses designed by winemaker Arianna Occhipinti, both offering views of the Iblei Mountains.  
• 36.8909115.050584 Terre di Romanello, S.P. 24 km 1.8, 96017 Noto SR, Italy, ☏ +39 0931 1798071, [email protected]. Accommodation in a restored baglio with swimming pool, located about two kilometres outside the town of Noto.  

• 37.26531514.1110741 Cantine La Vite, C.da Le Schette snc, 93016 Riesi CL, ☏ +39 0934 929308, [email protected]. Vineyard wine shop open Monday to Friday (closed at lunchtime) and Saturday mornings. Organic wines available.  
• 37.01477715.133922 Tenuta Cavasecca, Contrada Cavasecca, Via per Canicattini, SP14, 96017 Noto SR, ☏ +39 333 6526320, [email protected]. Guided walks through the estate’s olive groves and visits to the DOP olive oil cellar. Cooking classes also available.  

Avoid drinking and driving when visiting wineries. Rural roads may be narrow and poorly lit, and summer heat can be intense.

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