Benanti Winery
Benanti Winery
4.5
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
About
Benanti. The high profile of Etna. We welcome our guests to our nineteenth-century estate, at the foot of Monte Serra in Viagrande. Our mission is to offer our guests an opportunity to become ambassadors of Etna wines, creating memorable experiences that communicate our territory and its centuries-old traditions via our wines. To do this, we accompany our guests around the estate, up the slope of Mt. Serra — an ancient volcanic cone sewn with vines — to see and touch our centenary vines of Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio. From the vineyard, we visit our old and majestic Palmento to learn about local customs and the winemaking techniques of our ancestors. Your experience continues in the historical former cellar, which has been transformed into a painting collection room for our selection of oil-on-canvas portraits. The wine & culture experience culminates in one of three guided wine tasting & food pairing programs: *"Get to know Etna" *"Contrade Selection" *"Library Vintages"
Duration: 2-3 hours
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4.5
158 reviews
Excellent
135
Very good
14
Average
4
Poor
2
Terrible
3
Jessica G
60 contributions
July 2016 • Couples
We were extremely disappointed by our winery tour and "light lunch" at Benanti Winery. It cost 50€ each which is double the price of other tours we have done, but it sounded great so I was willing to pay.
My disappointment began with my difficulty even arranging the tour. It took several days before my initial emails were responded to. I was relieved when they finally confirmed my tour for my partner and I.
The disappointment continued when we arrived for our tour. We arrived early, only to find all of the buildings empty. We wandered around for some time before we found someone. The person told us that our guide was "upstairs" and would be with us in 10 minutes. In fact, despite being early, the tour had left without us! They had forgotten about us!! And we had missed the first ten minutes of the tour tour.
We joined the enormous existing group of ten people (twelve including us). When we arrived, some soggy bruschetta was waiting for us.
The structure of the tour was "dynamic" and we were given a glass to carry with us, so that we could try wines in the vinyard, during the tour. This was a really nice idea in theory but in reality we were served warm white wine and soggy bruschetta.
The second bruschetta looked worse than the first, it was macerated, wilted and mushy. Other tour members expressed concern about this and our guide admitted that the bruschetta had been sitting outside in the sun for two hours. She took them away, so nobody got any and they were not re-made.
The tour contunued, and admittedly, the rest of it was quite enjoyable. Our guide was lovely and knowlegable. It was interesting to view the art collection and old fashioned wine press.
The "light lunch" was in fact an extrememly stingy antipasto platter. It is true that the items we recieved were described in the email I was sent, but I couldn't believe how little food was given for twelve people. In total I recieved: a single slice of raw-ish eggplant, two small slices of salami, four small cubes of cheese, three olives, and one breadstick. Our plates were quickly taken away from us before we had even finished eating what small amount of food we had (around 20-30 minutes after we sat down). I was eating slowly, trying to savour the food as it was meant to be a "lunch" after all.
If this tour had been half the price, I would recommend it, but the price of 100€ was, in my opinion, exorbidant for what was delivered. Of course, we appreciate that people make mistakes. But for 100€, we expected more.
By contrast, the tour and tasting we attended at Cottanera Winery was magnificent and we recieved so much more for half the price. I have written a separate review for them.
My disappointment began with my difficulty even arranging the tour. It took several days before my initial emails were responded to. I was relieved when they finally confirmed my tour for my partner and I.
The disappointment continued when we arrived for our tour. We arrived early, only to find all of the buildings empty. We wandered around for some time before we found someone. The person told us that our guide was "upstairs" and would be with us in 10 minutes. In fact, despite being early, the tour had left without us! They had forgotten about us!! And we had missed the first ten minutes of the tour tour.
We joined the enormous existing group of ten people (twelve including us). When we arrived, some soggy bruschetta was waiting for us.
The structure of the tour was "dynamic" and we were given a glass to carry with us, so that we could try wines in the vinyard, during the tour. This was a really nice idea in theory but in reality we were served warm white wine and soggy bruschetta.
The second bruschetta looked worse than the first, it was macerated, wilted and mushy. Other tour members expressed concern about this and our guide admitted that the bruschetta had been sitting outside in the sun for two hours. She took them away, so nobody got any and they were not re-made.
The tour contunued, and admittedly, the rest of it was quite enjoyable. Our guide was lovely and knowlegable. It was interesting to view the art collection and old fashioned wine press.
The "light lunch" was in fact an extrememly stingy antipasto platter. It is true that the items we recieved were described in the email I was sent, but I couldn't believe how little food was given for twelve people. In total I recieved: a single slice of raw-ish eggplant, two small slices of salami, four small cubes of cheese, three olives, and one breadstick. Our plates were quickly taken away from us before we had even finished eating what small amount of food we had (around 20-30 minutes after we sat down). I was eating slowly, trying to savour the food as it was meant to be a "lunch" after all.
If this tour had been half the price, I would recommend it, but the price of 100€ was, in my opinion, exorbidant for what was delivered. Of course, we appreciate that people make mistakes. But for 100€, we expected more.
By contrast, the tour and tasting we attended at Cottanera Winery was magnificent and we recieved so much more for half the price. I have written a separate review for them.
Written 1 July 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear J_loves_cooking
Thank you for your comments, which I value greatly.
I am sorry that the experience we offer was not in line with your expectations. As owner of the winery, though, it is my duty to try to clarify some of the points you have made.
Grouping guests together is a policy which is common at many wineries. In high season, it will be quite frequent for us to ask different guests to share the experience. Our communal tasting table can seat a maximum of 14 guests, which we do not regard as an oversize number. Usually, given the holiday mood that most guests are in, allowing them to meet one another and share the tasting proves to be quite an enriching and merry experience. Our materials clearly state, however, that a private tasting can be arranged too, with notice of course, if requested by our guests. In the absence of such a request, we assume that our guests will not mind sharing the experience.
The day you visited, we had a group of another 10 very enthusiastic wine lovers who were returning for the second time in three days. They asked if they could go up to vineyard while we were waiting for your arrival and we, of course, said yes. This is why they were up there when you arrived. Upon your arrival, we escorted you up to the vineyard too so you could join them. Please rest assured that we had not forgotten you: we manage our agenda electronically and all visits are duly accounted for. Simply, some guests may arrive earlier, and some later, and we try to ensure that they all have a great experience, by being very flexible on our side.
With regards to the "moving" wine tasting, which implies drinking the first wine atop the vineyard, I have made a note of your comment regarding the temperature of the wine and I have instructed my staff to always ensure that withe wines are served even more chilled on very hot days.
I am sorry you did not like our bruschettas. I will investigate this with the kitchen. We had never received any complaint before.
With regards to the rest of the food, we usually serve quite sizable portions, and the variety of cheeses and cold cuts available to our guests is quite significant. The experience revolves around the wine and the historic rooms that characterize our winery. The food is meant to represent a complement to such experience. After all, we are not a restaurant, but, as I mentioned, we usually serve quite generous portions and we state very clearly to all our guests that more food is available for those who wish to have more. The same applies to our wine, which we always serve in good quantities, with a refill always available for those who desire one.
We believe a value of €50 per person is fair. Drinking five glasses of highly-scoring wines, with the guidance of a professional sommelier, food to go with them, in a historical and natural setting, in our opinion, is worth the price. Having said that, we respect your view and we understand that Cottanera (friends of ours) offered something which was more in line with your expectations.
I thank you again for your views and send my kind regards
Salvino Benanti
Written 5 July 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
AlohaHonolulu
Honolulu178 contributions
Mar 2016 • Friends
We attended a wine tasting with a group and were pleasantly surprised at the quality of the wine. The proprietors (family owned) were engaging and charming; very proud of their wines and their legacy. Small family owned and charming tasting room about 20 minutes outside of downtown Catania. Worth the drive --- call ahead for hours of operation.
Written 3 April 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amelia
Boston, MA168 contributions
Mar 2016 • Friends
Benanti Winery, Via Giuseppe Garibaldi, 361, 95029 Viagrande CT, Italy, is found on the steep slopes of Mt. Etna, and is a jewel you should not miss. My fellow travelers and I were treated by our hostess Valentina, a young Sicilian woman with a great knowledge of wine and wine making. She lead us up the slopes and began by talking about the soil, and the unique qualities imparted into it by the active volcanic monster we were standing on, Mt. Etna. She took us to young vines and some very old vines, 120 years old. We walked among the vines on the terraced hillside and she really connected us to the fact that they are first farmers. She next took us to the barrel room, to see an ancient press - a palmento, and finally to a tasting. Her food pairings were excellent, and all local. The wines were bursting with flavor as they had warmed to just the right drinking temperature. She guided us we experienced all the winery had to offer. Because she tens the vines, participates in the harvest, and wine making and barreling she is the perfect guide. If your travels take you to Sicily, or you just love wine, go see Valentina and experience the Benanti Winery on Mt. Etna in Sicily. It will be well worth your time and money.
Written 16 March 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
South S
16 contributions
Feb 2016 • Couples
My wife and I visited this winery and can honestly say this is some good wine!! It's more of a group winery and not for just a couple. More on the expensive side compared to a lot of wineries in the area. Almost twice as much as other wineries for the wine tasting tour. But worth one trip to taste good wine.
Written 22 February 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
April S
Portland, OR4 contributions
Dec 2015
Giuseppe and his sons Salvino and Antonio have done a phenomenal amount of work to make this vineyard one of the premier wineries in all of Sicily. They provided a wonderful tour and a delicious meal for us! An experience I will cherish always!
Written 5 December 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tako65
San Marcos, TX133 contributions
Oct 2015
The Benanti Family had a long history with vineyards in Sicily, but one that had a temporary hiatus. Then the current members of the family took over with the vision of not only restoring the family vineyards but also bringing a new quality to old Sicilian grapes. We were fortunate enough to spend private time with Senor Benanti and his son; however, the vineyard is also open for tours, wine tasting, and food pairings. It's a wonderful place to experience the Etna terroir surrounded by art and family memorabilia.
Written 16 November 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gianluca D
Province of Palermo, Italy218 contributions
Oct 2015 • Business
One of my favourite winery on the Southeast slop of the Etna. Their excellent wines go together with freindliness, professionality and a beautiful set. Do'n'y miss the paintings collection.
Written 4 November 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark D
Coral Springs, FL39 contributions
Oct 2015 • Couples
We have done wine tasting and winery tours before but this one surpasses them all. The host was attentive, polite, well spoken, and knowledgeable. The wine was delicious and the food was impeccable. At the end of this tour, if you are hungry or thirsty that is YOUR fault. They are extremely gracious with their servings.
Written 28 October 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lin974
Texas52 contributions
Sept 2015 • Couples
On the slopes of Mt Etna, the grounds are beautiful. We were there in September so the grape clusters were picture perfect. The tour was well done by the owners. We had a tasting of 3 wines paired with food. It was very good. We enjoyed it so much we had some shipped home. We received the shipment just as promised with no problems within a few weeks of returning home. We were there on a Rick Steves tour.
Written 25 October 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
THEODOSIA74
Oslo, Norway17 contributions
Oct 2015
An historic winery, one of the first to introduce Sicilian wines to the world. Lovely location, good quality wines, great hospitality. Run at this moment from the owner Giuseppe Benanti and his two sons...is one of the best in Etna area.
Written 15 October 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Giusi S
Grammichele, Italy24 contributions
Siete aperti la sera del 31 Dicembre? È previsto un evento?
Benanti V
Viagrande
Salve. Ci perdoni del ritardo. La sua richiesta ci era sfuggita.
Ci spiace.
Per maggiori informazioni ci contatti sempre via email di info. Può verificare sempre sul nostro nuovo sito
Cordiali saluti,
Benanti team
Rob K
Hicksville, NY104 contributions
Around how much is the taxi fare to benanti winery if we are staying close to the port?
Cindy-Charles K
14 contributions
I don't have any way to answer your question, as we were on a Road-Scholar tour which took us to the Winery. We did not hire a taxi to go there.
Thierry1559
Peregian Beach, Australia62 contributions
Hi, we (2) are visiting Catania in April 2019 and are thinking of visiting Benanti Winery. How do we get to the winery from Catania and return without having to drive for a reasonable price? We have 22, 23 or 24 April available for the visit.
I notice that a visit includes both a tasting and brunch. what is the price?
TIDavisNYC
New York, New York, United States36 contributions
1) Check availability with the winery first; it is a working vineyard, and sometimes they need to close for work
2) Best would be Uber or an arranged driver, as the property is quite a ways out of Catania, and outside of the town of Viagrande
3) Prices are on their webiste. Not cheap, but we found the price worth it for the tour and tasting.
Jason L
1 contribution
Hello, my wife and I plan on touring Mount Etna and then stopping by a couple of vineyards on our way to Taormina. One of those vineyards is Benanti. Are we able to visit Benanti for a tasting and then buy some wine or do we need to reserve before we arrive?
We don't plan on having lunch.
Thanks,
Jason
D S
Portland, OR20 contributions
Jason,
I was also there on an organized tour, so I can't really speak to your specific questions. But I can vouch for the quality of the wine -- top notch -- and the friendliness of the staff. Definitely worth a stop. Enjoy your trip.
David
Marisssabelka
Moscow, Russia37 contributions
Hello! I couldn't find any programme at your web-site. Could you give me information about booking, programme and price. Thank you!
Svet
Seattle, WA14 contributions
Hi! The winery says they open at 9 am but I am unable to find when they begin serving food. Will there be snacks/brunch available in the mornings?
pbudny
Paris, France43 contributions
I would encourage you to contact them directly to try to arrange this, as this is not something most places in Italy do. Generally restaurant only operate starting at noon.
dyana1978
Aci Sant'Antonio, Italy7 contributions
siete aperti a ferragosto? se si è possibile degustazione e pranzo? e quanto costa tour e pranzo? o proponete qualcos'altro per la stessa data?
jrpark51
Highland, NY1 contribution
Was this a private tour of the winery only or part of a larger tour? We are visiting the are next month and will have a car. Did you make reservations in advance?
BurgundyGuide
Beaune, France516 contributions
You can book a tour directly with the winery and it is advisable to book in advance
Oki
Roccalumera, Italy19 contributions
ciao,vorrei sapere come si articola la visita,se include il pranzo oltre la degustazione, ed anche il costo di tutto.. grazie
Benanti V
Viagrande
Salve. Ci perdoni del ritardo. La sua richiesta ci era sfuggita.
Ci spiace.
Per maggiori informazioni ci contatti sempre via email di info. Può verificare sempre sul nostro nuovo sito
Cordiali saluti,
Benanti team
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