A taste of Etna’s legacy: Volcanic wines at Barone di Villagrande
Nestled on the eastern slopes of Mount Etna, where ancient vines cling to volcanic soil and clouds dance with smoke from the crater above, you will find one of the oldest vineyards in the volcanic area of Sicily - Barone di Villagrande.
The laid back arrival at Barone di Villagrande
This historic winery is a family-run estate with centuries of winemaking tradition. The vineyard was officially founded in 1727 when the current owner’s ancestor, Don Carmelo Nicolosi was given the title of Baron of Villagrande. The vineyards have been cultivated by the same family ever since.
After arriving through the winding roads up the mountain, ash piled up where it has floated down from the famous volcano above, the views at Barone di Villagrande take your breath away. You can see the Ionian Sea shimmering in the distance, framed by the dark, fertile slopes of Etna. The vineyards cascade down the hillsides, orderly yet wild.
Acres of vines
There are two options to taste wine here and in typical Sicilian style, neither of them are fast!
You can indulge in a full four-course lunch with your tastings, or as we did, opt for finger foods to match the wines.
Both are guided tastings starting with a visit to the ancient cellars on the estate and include the opportunity to try the dishes of the Etnean kitchen paired with the wines. Menus are entirely seasonal, but they do cater to dietaries.
Tasty morsels
Our host, charming and unhurried, began the tasting with a full glass of the Salina Bianco and left us to enjoy it. We sipped slowly, enjoying sitting in the warm outdoors and the light breeze on a hot summer day.
The wines that followed were the Etna Bianco (my favourite), the Etna Rosso, made from Nerello Mascalese. Pale garnet in color, it looked almost too delicate for its earthy aroma.
Enjoying the Etna Bianco
The finish we had a sweet wine, the Malvasia which matched our snacks perfectly.
All in all we spent at least two hours enjoying one of the oldest vineyards on an active (very active) volcano. We spent a little time in the shop on our way out, buying a couple of bottles of the Etna Bianco and some olive oil to enjoy on our travels.
Little pieces of history everywhere
Barone di Villagrande isn’t just a winery. It’s a quiet slice of paradise where history and love of good food and wine come together. It’s worth a visit.
If you wanted to linger a little longer, you can stay right here on the estate – there is even and outdoor pool overlooking the mountain vines.
Dog-friendly vineyards of Stanthorpe
In the middle of winter (or any time of year really…), does anything beat a high-altitude winery tour to warm your insides?
The Granite Belt – or Stanthorpe specifically – is one of the few wine regions in Queensland but it sure packs a punch. Even better, there are a load of vineyards that will welcome both you and your pup!
We tasted a lot of wine on our recent visit when we stayed at Merlot Mountain Retreat, but the best ones were where we could experience it together with our furry friend.
Ridgemill Estate
This was our first stop on arrival – just around the corner from our accommodation and with a wine club called Top Dogs, you just know these guys are dog-friendly!
Some more interested in wine tasting than others…
The vineyard at Ridgemill itself is amongst the highest altitude wineries in Australia at some 840 metres above sea level so we were so happy to be allowed inside to do our wine tasting with Falcor as the outside was definitely getting cold as the sun was setting.
Onto what we came here for – the wine!
Along with some old Aussie faithful varieties, we tasted a Saperavi that we just had to bring home with us – one glass was not enough.
Don’t forget to say hi to the very friendly goats that will race up to the feeding station near the cellar door!
Falcor meeting th friendly goats.
If you want to stay longer here, you can. Ridgemill has eight onsite cabins that are dog friendly and a pet-friendly 3-bedroom house for families as well.
Summit Estate
This was by far my favourite vineyard on this trip.
There’s a sign at the door at Summit Estate letting you know that they’re ‘fur baby friendly’ and to bring them in, AND a sign with dairy-free cheese tastings – perfection.
All made on-site!
Add to this, the staff here could not be friendlier and will want photos of your dog at the vineyard – even down to the chat we had with the guy trimming the vines out the back!
Welcome inside at Summit Estate!
There’s a $7.50 charge of wine tasting, which is waived in return for purchasing a bottle and we certainly nabbed a couple – along with some of the cashew-based cheese.
On Friday and Saturday nights, the estate stays open to let visitors enjoy the incredible sunsets over the vines. After our tasting, we sat our here and let Falcor sniff around while I warmed up with a mulled wine.
Falcor posing.
Balancing Heart Vineyard
Think wine tasting with sunset views and woodfired oven pizzas and there you have Balancing Heart Vineyard.
The cellar door is also the starting point for a stroll through the vines – dog in tow - taking in breathtaking views of the local area and, of course, the famous rock that gives the winery its name.
Dogs are welcome inside the cellar door but it was a little too busy in the small space for us so we spent the most of our time out on the verandah. There are picnic tables under the trees outside for those who want space and fresh air.
It is important to note that there are two (very) friendly German Shepherds on site so your dog needs to be ok with that. They were a bit too into playing for our fur baby at times.
There are seven wines on offer, and we tasted them all.
As the sun sets, the air cools down but these guys have you covered with outdoor heaters and blankets to borrow. The perfect end to a long day of tastings.
You will need to make sure you book to get a spot with the sunset dinners only running Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
That is a just a small taste of the vineyards in the area – and there are also more dog friendly options like Hidden Creek Winery and Café, Jester Hill Wines and Symphony Hill Wines.
Something you will see and hear a lot as you visit the wineries of the region is Strangebirds. This is marketing term that was developed around ten years ago, it’s now become synonymous with the alternative varieties grown in the Granite Belt. To be called a Strangebird there must be less than 1% produced in Australia. It does mean you get to taste varietals you will never see in your average bottle shop!
If beer is more your speed, you can hang out at the Granite Belt Brewery. Dogs on a lead are allowed on the veranda of the brewery and restaurant – perfect for lunch or dinner.
Book a Stanthorpe stay of your very own here or book in for a full day private wine tour including lunch if you don’t feel like driving!
A beer tasting paddle at Granite Belt Brewery.
Wine tasting at Dingo Creek Vineyard
Wine among the vines, a grazing platter and space for my dog? Sign me up!
The cellar door at Dingo Creek Vineyard in the Noosa Hinterland offers just that – and all with a picturesque view of Mount Cooroora.
The tasting here isn’t free but for $20, you get to try six wines and take the glass home as a souvenir as well.
Tasting experts and a photographer
The vineyard stocks 14 different wines and the team there are knowledgeable and very involved in your tasting – no being left to your own devices here.
Aiden loved the Chardonnay but the star of the show for me was the Black Cockatoo Sparkling Shiraz. Some bottles of that definitely made their way into the car to be enjoyed again.
Enjoying an extra glass of the sparkling shiraz.
In addition to wine, these guys are also putting out tasty fortified drinks and we scored a bottle of their delicious port to take home.
There isn’t a full kitchen here, but we enjoyed a full glass of wine and a robust grazing platter out in the sunshine with Falcor by our side – the end of a fantastic day out and about.
A grazing platter fit for a King!
The grazing platter was brimming with salami, prosciutto, ham, cheeses, vegetables, fresh bread, spreads and even chicken wings!
The location is divine, you really feel like you are away from it all and the rustic deck doesn’t intrude on the natural location at all. I can imagine it looks amazing all lit up after dark.
The open deck catches a nice breeze on a warm day.
To ensure you nab a spot (and don’t drive all the way without tasting the wine), make sure you book in advance. I know we will be when we visit again to restock the cellar…