Sicily
Overview
Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, located in the South of Italy and covering a surface of 25,711 km. It boasts stretches and stretches of virgin countryside, with rolling hills, mountain ranges, rivers and an ever changing panorama. This unique and tranquil landscape with rivers cutting steep canyons and sharp valleys and with gentle hills covered in alternating groves of olives, carob and almonds and an abundance of isolated forests. Look out for deer and wild boar roaming the hills and if you are lucky enough you will catch a glimpse of a golden eagle or two gliding around the peaks.
- Sicily is biodiversity
Sicily is a region that possesses an enormous variety of species, and it is home to 25% of Europe’s biodiversity and 50% of Italy's. It has an extremely favourable climate, many types of soil, and precious natural genetic and cultural resources, which make it possible to diversify the production of wine and food.
- Sicily is Mount Etna
Sicily would not be Sicily without Mont Etna, Europe’s highest active volcano rising 3000 meters above sea level. People here have a special connection to Etna, thinking of it as a benevolent mother, watching over the island. Etna is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, not only noted for its massive size and activity, but for the vast diversity of ecosystems and landscapes. Buildings, piazzas and churches of towns nearby are made largely of black volcanic rock. Orange groves as well as plots of olive trees, terraced hills of vines, almonds and pistachio farms, apiaries and more than a hundred kinds of wild herbs exploit the peculiar composition of the soil, inspiring fervent culinary followings. It’s mixture of mineral-rich decomposed lava, along with lots of limestone: extremely fertile and uniquely mineral.
- Sicily is a culinary crossroad
Sicily is not only at a culinary crossroads but a crossroads in every sense. Greeks praised it, Romans coveted it, Arabs settled it, even Armenians and Spaniards stayed for a while or stayed for good. Those lingerers left their mark on language and tradition. Each lingerer added to the food culture to a greater or lesser extent, playing a part in providing Sicily with its complex nature.
This incredible difference of territories and micro-climates is the perfect nest for unique products.
We try to describe the essence of Italy one experience at a time. Experiences that represent daily rituals of nourishment. Nourishment in its broadest sense. Emotional and spiritual, aesthetic and visual, tactile and olfactory. Nourishing experiences that can be “satisfying” in a nearly religious way.
Experience
Villa Tasca
A unique experience of luxurious aristocratic living close to the heart of Palermo. Surrounded by abundance of varied flora and fauna, was originally a hunting lodge and has only recently been transformed into a holiday home. A truly unique and enchanting place, the Villa has always hosted famous personalities, such as Wagner, who visited many times and in fact actually composed the third act of “Parsifal” here in 1881.
Regaleali Wine Retreats
400 hectares of vineyards alternate with a landscape of almond and olive trees, among vast fields of wheat, oats and eucalyptus trees in the heart of Sicily. Seven rooms remodelled within the ancient structure, all different, and you can take a number of nature trails on foot, by bike to discover the biodiversity of the estate.
Anna Lanza Cooking School
In the green hills of Sicily, Anna Tasca Lanza Cooking School stands at this complex intersection of agriculture and cooking, helping to set the stage for a new generation of farmers, producers, chefs, winemakers and consumers. Since 1989, Fabrizia Lanza invite people to discover Sicily, orchestrating a participatory culinary / cultural experience.
Capofaro Locanda & Malvasia
Twenty rooms set amongst the vines, prickly pears and bouganvillle. The terrace of the restaurant has a striking charm, as it reaches out towards the infinite, illuminated by the glow of the old lighthouse, with views of Stromboli and Panarea.
Malvasia Day at Capofaro
At Capofaro, on the island of Salina, the producers discuss the many different interpretations of Malvasia delle Lipari, the main grape variety of the Aeolian Islands.
The goal is to promote the individual vineyards and the diversity of local production, on a path that has always been linked to sustainability and care for the best suited wine-growing territories.
Journal
Capofaro and its unique Malvasia
Sicily
Malvasia delle Lipari is the noble fruit of the Aeolian islands, the grape belongs to the category of aromatic wines, and is one of the many Malvasia varieties cultivated in Italy.
The Blessed Hills of Regaleali
Sicily
Tasting, Eating, Sleeping and Cultivating Beauty at Regaleali
Sicily
Mozia: Where Vines and History Coexist
Sicily
Sallier de la Tour: Syrah's Chosen Territory
Sicily
Capofaro: an extraordinary vineyard overlooking the sea
Sicily
Illuminated by a historic lighthouse on the bluff, the charm of this 30+ year old vineyard seduces anyone who observes whether by sea or by land.
Sustainability for Tasca d'Almerita
Sicily
The bond with this land has always been important for @tascadalmerita family: they have always lived in the earth and off the fruits of the earth.
Biodiversity at Tasca d'Almerita
Sicily
Sustainability means also sharing a goal and participating together to its fulfilment.
Drink with Certa #13: Palari's Rocca Coeli Etna Rosso Contrada Marchesa 2015
Sicily
Palari is one of the cult wineries in Sicily, which made its fame for reviving the tiny historic Faro DOC located in north-eastern corner of this Mediterranean island.
Olive oil is an expression of terroir
Sicily
It's an ancient food, profound in its history and cultural impact. But olive oil is also an expression of terroir, just like grapes, so five very distinct bottles from Tasca d'Almerita reflect their own unique regions of Sicily.
Drink with Certa #5: Marsala, the hidden gem of Sicily
Sicily
Justin guides our through the discovery of Marsala, a fortified wine produced in the region surrounding the town of Marsala, located on Sicilia’s western tip.
Summer in Sicily: Tenuta Tascante
Sicily
Ian had travelled across Italy exploring Tasca estates over the last two summers. He shares some of his favourite wine memories of Tenuta Tascante, in the extraordinary territory of Mount Etna.
Salt Day
Sicily
Having salt in your hair is a common occurrence while cruising around Sicily and its glistening waters, but this feeling couldn’t be more apt than at Mozia, a tiny island off the western coast of Sicily.
The Sicilian Highlands
Sicily
Volcanoes and Sicily go together like Sonny and Cher, but no volcano in the region is as famous as Etna.
Summer in Sicily: Capofaro
Sicily
Ian had travelled across Italy exploring Tasca estates over the last two summers. He shares some of his favourite wine memories of Capofaro, in the Aeolian archipelago.
How to create a perfect G&T (it’s not what you think)
Sicily
A gin and tonic is usually a “safe” drink – a drink you have when you’re not sure if the bar does good cocktails – but the way a gin and tonic is done at Capofaro, you’ll have no doubt that the bar can handle anything.
Summer in Sicily: Tenuta Regaleali
Sicily
Ian had travelled across Italy exploring Tasca estates over the last two summers. He shares some of his favourite wine memories of Tenuta Regaleali, in the heart of Sicily.
Does heaven exist? And other delicious questions
Sicily
Before we know it, we’re being taught how to milk the sheep, and make the milk into ricotta.
Culinary / Cultural encounter: Testa Conserve
Sicily
We took the chance to challenge this complex concept, holding chopsticks and matching Testa's Bluefin tuna fillets with some local flavours.
Summer in Sicily: Sallier de La Tour
Sicily
Ian had travelled across Italy exploring Tasca estates over the last two summers. He shares some of his favourite wine memories of Sallier de La Tour, a hour ride from Palermo.
Summer in Sicily: Tenuta Whitaker
Sicily
Ian had travelled across Italy exploring Tasca estates over the last two summers. He shares some of his favourite wine memories of Whitaker on Mozia island.
Regaleali Land
Sicily
‘We’re not in the south of Italy - we’re in the north of Africa’. It's a remarkable reminder from Corrado, the winemaker at Regaleali, of Sicily's unique geographical location, less than 100 miles away from Tunisia.
Trippin’ With Margarita Forés In The Heart Of Southern Italy
Sicily
The country’s most internationally acclaimed chef visits the Tenuta Regaleali estate for My Italy to discover what’s cooking inside the Anna Tasca Lanza Cooking School.
Regaleali @ Tosca
Sicily
A warm thank you to Chef Angelo!
A journey into Regaleali
Sicily
Food is a many-layered topic in most cultures and none more so than in #Italy. Together with a feeling of joy and conviviality, it brings also a sense of responsibility in taking care of a stratified system of notions and habits.
Introducing Anna Tasca Lanza School
Sicily
As this year we’re all stuck within our borders, Fabrizia @fabrizialanza decided to connect Case Vecchie with the rest of the world: she’s inviting us into her kitchen online!
Introducing Testa Conserve
Sicily
It’s that time of the year: sea is calling, @testa_conserve is ready to raise anchor. The Mediterranean #BluefinTuna season is officially open and we’re following the Testa crew on board.
Introducing Amaro Amara
Sicily
Behind its comforting bitterness, every #amaro is an entire story on its own. From the vast orange groves at the foot of Mount Etna, @amaro_amara is a 100% pure Sicilian story.
Food is ETHICS
Sicily
The food in our plate isn’t just a way to keep from feeling hungry; it’s a reflection on how we want the world to be, delicious yet fair.
Certa is BALANCE
Sicily
At Certa we tell stories of products that become experiences, that are environmentally-friendly and possess a clear terroir.
Introducing the next chapter of Certa
Sicily
We’ll take you on a tour beyond wine, trying to shape a new compelling way of talking about gastronomy, crafts, travel and people from the far south of Italy all the way up to the north.
Certa is PLACES
Sicily
The smell, taste and texture of our environment intensify our perception of places. The ability to be amazed and to meet our surroundings with an open mind and responsive senses will at once ground us and allow us to learn from each big little experience.