Sicily with Jeff Porter

Benvenuti a Sicily! After settling in at our hotel, we’ll meet up with our tastemaker and convene for a delightful wine tasting and welcome dinner. The meal—designed to introduce us to the core flavors of Sicily—is the perfect beginning of a journey filled with culinary delights, cultural discoveries, and moments of pure joy.

After breakfast we’ll head out to visit majestic Mount Etna, an active volcano that towers almost 11,000 feet over the island — and occasionally glows red with lava! We’ll head for a beautiful local winery where heritage vines clamber up the volcano’s slopes to an altitude of over 3,000 feet, producing delicate whites and intense, fruit-forward rosés and reds.

While there, we’ll indulge in a few tastings at renowned local wineries, complete with delectable pistachio pastries, and sit down for lunch on the grounds.

We’ll round out our wine-centric day with dinner at a spot.

This morning, we will depart for Siracusa and its ancient heart, the island of Ortigia. 

Once there, we’ll savor traditional fare in the Ortigia food market and take in the sights, shouts, and smells that will transport you to an atmosphere far away from today’s modern world. While there, we’ll collect ingredients for a cooking class tomorrow.

Next, we head to Tenuta Cavasecca for a visit to its olive groves and the ancient temple that now houses vats of freshly pressed oil. Finally, we will taste this liquid gold and feast on a homemade lunch with fresh ingredients straight from the farm’s garden.

Our road trip will continue meandering through the countryside taking us to our new home for the next couple of nights where we’ll enjoy dinner after we check in.

We’ll take some time to relax at the hotel this morning, before convening together for a cooking class featuring local ingredients. Afterwards, we’ll head to a local vineyard where grapes, olives, and other produce grow from the sandy, red topsoils of decomposed volcanic sediments, and taste the unique and historical blends they have to offer. 

Dinner this evening is on your own to enjoy.

This morning we’re off to Agrigento. This former Greek colony was established in the 6th century BC and was a leading city-state in the Mediterranean world. Agrigento’s magnificent Doric temples dominate the ancient town, much of which still lies intact among acres of olive, pistachio, almond, and fruit trees. We’ll drink in the sumptuous beauty of the gardens over a picnic lunch.

We will then depart for Palermo for a few hours of driving through Italy before arriving in time to enjoy the beautiful grounds of our hotel and a group dinner.

There’s no better introduction to freewheeling Palermo than the colorful Capo market; as we wander the stalls, listening to the singsong calls of vendors and inhaling an intoxicating swirl of aromas, we’ll be tantalized by the sharp tang of Sicilian citrus fruits, fragrant sesame-seed loaves pulled from a wood-fired oven, savory arancini (fried rice balls) and thick slices of sfincione topped with sweet tomato sauce.

Next, we’ll be treated to a historical tour as we take in Palermo’s stunning seafront, its terraces and courtyards a tapestry of hanging gardens perfumed with subtropical essence. After a a few hours of independent exploration, we’ll meet up again for a truly magical farewell dinner. Alongside our tastemaker and our new friends, we’ll toast to an incredible Sicilian experience!

Arrivederci Sicilia! We’re off this morning after seven immersive days of culinary exploration. After breakfast we’ll say goodbye, knowing the memory of our journey together will live in our hearts forever! We’ll organize a group transfer to Palermo’s PMO airport for flights to mainland Italy and beyond.