Wine Tasting At Villa San Michele

Savor a selection of Etna-certified wines produced from grapes grown in volcanic soil, and then see a hardened wall of lava that almost engulfed a village in 1992.

After departing from the pier, you'll enjoy a brief panoramic drive of Messina before settling in for a scenic drive that follows the coast before turning inland in the shadow of Mount Etna, Italy's largest active volcano. Here on the outskirts of Zafferana village, you will find the spectacular San Michele Estate, one of the region's premier wine producers.

As you tour the estate's vineyard on the eastern slope of Mount Etna, you will discover why so many wineries have thrived here. The microclimate is ideal for growing grapes, and the volcanic soil is even more conducive, as its nutrients lend a distinct flavor to the grapes grown in it.

During a sampling of several varietals, you will taste the characteristics of Etna-certified wines that may include a classic red made from local nerello mascalese grapes. You might also savor a blend composed largely of catarratto, Sicily's most widely planted white grape.

Following the tasting, you will re-board your coach and drive toward Zafferana, which was nearly engulfed in lava during a violent volcanic eruption in 1992. Fortunately, the lava was diverted into a makeshift trench that was created with explosives.

You will see just how close the molten rock came by visiting its stopping point not even a half-mile from Zafferana. What remains is a hardened wall of lava, where you will pause for photos before returning to the pier.