Gambino Vini

November 30, 2014

900 metres above sea level on the slopes of Mount Etna you will find the Gambino Winery.

So many of our friends in Sicily had recommended Gambino it made us desperate to visit, we made our first visit in June.

The drive up to Gambino from our home in Giardini Naxos is stunning and takes around one hour. You pass through the beautiful Etna towns of Piedimonte Etneo and Linguaglossa entering Etna wine territory. The whole way up you glimpse the main crater of Etna and every so often you have to stop to let the Circumetnea Railway train pass which is a private line that circles the base of the volcano.

Following the signs for Gambino Vini you drive past the many vineyards on Etna, the Gambino Winery is the highest vineyard on the volcano with the best wine tasting experience.

As we took the turn off for the winery we drove past Gambino’s terraces full of grape vines which were a wonderful welcome. After parking the car and admiring the fantastic views across the terraces downwards to the Ionian Sea, Taormina and Giardini Naxos we walked to the main tasting building and were greeted by Francesco who showed us to our table and immediately we were made to feel at home and part of the Gambino family.

Francesco introduced us to our sommelier Hanna, who would be helping us with our wine tasting experience. We had the option of three menus, all that would complement the fabulous wines we were about to taste and Hanna told us that we would be tasting four wines, one white and three reds, in the end we tasted six wines.

We chose the middle menu which was €20 per person, the food was amazing and all locally produced, we started with a generous plate of cheeses, meats, sundried tomatoes, mushrooms and olives.

Hanna brought us our first two wines to sample and explained everything we needed to know about each wine, leaving the bottles on our table so we could top up our glasses.

I am not going to tell you everything about the wines because I do not want to spoil your own Gambino experience.

We were then served Sicilian sausage (my favourite) with salad and sampled our next bottles of wine. The Gambino wines are delicious.

Daisy was thoroughly spoilt and was also brought a Sicilian sausage to enjoy.

We had an amazing afternoon and after coffee and a sweet from a local pasticceria we left knowing that we had made new friends for life.

Then we became the people recommending visits to Gambino, therefore we made our second trip up to the vineyard with friends in October just in time for the grape harvest. The vines were laden with beautiful grapes ready for pruning and picking.

This time we had the pleasure of being shown behind the scenes and learnt all about the wine making process. Every person who works at Gambino is so passionate about their wine, vineyard and land it is such a pleasure to behold.

We were also shown another wine tasting room which can be hired for weddings, special occasions and VIPS ........

This year Gambino had the pleasure of two special VIPs, the renowned actor John Turturro and the singer Rhianna who was on a break from her European tour and flew in by helicopter whilst her yacht was anchored off the Aeolian Islands.

In my opinion at Gambino every guest is treated as a VIP including Daisy.

There is a wonderful atmosphere at the vineyard and we are looking forward to our next trip in Spring and many more, Gambino Vini is the place you never want to leave.

At White Almond Private Sicily we can arrange for a private English speaking driver to accompany you to the Gambino Winery in association with Sicily Tours and Excursions by Franco Group.

Why not combine your wine tasting experience with a visit to Mount Etna beforehand.

For more information on Gambino Vini and to order wine visit www.vinigambino.it