Etna Wine Forum closes its fourth edition with over four thousand attendees

Over four thousand attendees, fifty wineries, oil mills, and an eighteenth-century villa transformed into a hub of knowledge, tastings, and meetings. The fourth edition of Etna Wine Forum, the festival dedicated to the southwest side of Etna, has concluded successfully. For three days, Villa delle Favare in Biancavilla hosted a packed program of masterclasses, seminars, and cooking demonstrations.

Organized by the Municipality of Biancavilla in collaboration with the Italian Sommelier Foundation , and with the patronage of Rai Sicilia and the media partnership of the Rai Regional News Agency , the event confirms its growth in audience and content, consolidating itself as one of the points of reference for Etna's wine culture and crowning Biancavilla as the capital of viticulture on the south-western slope.

The fourth edition has attracted an ever-growing audience of enthusiasts and the curious thanks to its winning assets: cultural insights, a focus on promotion, and a genuine connection with the local area.

The special guest of this edition was the American journalist Robert Camuto , a writer for the prestigious magazine Wine Spectator, who presented to the public his latest book “Altrove al Sud”, a journey through stories of rebirth and authenticity in the world of Southern wine.

"Etna can address the current challenges facing the world of wine by leveraging its uniqueness, territoriality, and the extraordinary diversity of its slopes. New generations must start again with wine as a shared experience and a cultural element," commented Robert Camuto.

At the heart of the event is the promotion of the volcano's southwest slope: a territory with a strong identity, characterized by a unique microclimate and mineral-rich volcanic soils that yield wines and oils with an unmistakable profile.

"The Etna Wine Forum confirms its status as a national event, attracting an increasingly large and qualified audience. The success of this fourth edition, marked by the presence of Michelin-starred chefs who have highlighted our wines, is proof that we are on the right path. Biancavilla has become a beacon of quality food and wine at the foot of the volcano," commented Biancavilla's mayor, Antonio Bonanno.

The 2025 edition opened with a meeting for the area's primary and secondary schools, to raise awareness among young people about the value of education and the opportunities associated with agriculture and wine production, as a way to counteract the island's talent drain.

Numerous masterclasses took place over the three days, including in-depth scientific discussions and tastings of Etna wines and more. Ample space was given to understanding the territory and scientific research, such as the talk "The Other Wines of the Volcano," where Nicola Purrello (director of Etna Urban Winery) and Antonella Castro (University of Catania) presented a holistic study that surveyed over 230 producers and more than 1,100 labels on Etna. This analysis highlighted the rich viticultural heritage of the southwest slope, where twelve wineries produce twenty-five wines, with Nerello Cappuccio and Nerello Mascalese as the main grape varieties. Antonella Castro also explored the mineral composition of Etna's soils and the potential uses of substances extracted from the pomace in nutraceuticals and cosmetics, thanks to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

The masterclass "From North to South: Great White Wines and the Verticality of Timorasso and Carricante," led by Daniela Scrobogna (taster and head of the Scientific Committee of the Italian Sommelier Foundation), producer Walter Massa , and Ivo Basile (Tasca d'Almerita), also attracted considerable interest. This discussion highlighted the longevity and elegance of Carricante, Etna's iconic grape variety.

Sicilian gastronomic culture was the underlying theme of the cooking show by two-starred chef Pino Cuttaia (La Madia di Licata), moderated by Ruggero Sardo, who discussed the profound connection between cuisine and territory as a distinctive feature of the island's identity. The show also featured chef Valeria Raciti, winner of MasterChef Italia 8, hosted by Claudia D'Amico, and focused on pairing seasonal dishes with local wines, in the spirit of authentic and sustainable cuisine.

Not just wine: the Forum also highlighted Etna's heroic olive growing with the seminar "Extreme Oils. Oil Production from the Southwest to the New Olive Growing Frontiers," presented by the Italian Olive Oil Sommelier Association.

There was also space for a discussion on climate change and the sector's new challenges, with the panel "Winemakers and Global Challenges: From Terroir to Climate Change," which brought together experts such as Daniela Scrobogna and winemaker Federico Curtaz.

On the final day, Sunday, October 12th, there will be a large tasting table featuring fifty wineries and hundreds of labels, as well as masterclasses dedicated to the wines of the Cirò and Val di Noto Consortium, led by Francesco Pensovecchio, director of Wine in Sicily, and Agata Arancio of the Italian Sommelier Foundation.

"The Etna Wine Forum has become a fixture in the Italian wine calendar," commented Paolo Di Caro , president of the Italian Sommelier Foundation of Sicily. "It's an event that aims to communicate the uniqueness of Etna's southwest side—combining educational and experiential aspects—and at the same time transcend the island's borders with international guests."

The Radio Amore group introduced the public to the event dedicated to Etna's wine culture through live broadcasts, interviews, talks, and the Antenna Sicilia program "IsolaVerde," hosted by Ruggero Sardo. With the patronage of the regional departments for Local Authorities and Agriculture, MASAF, Confagricoltura, and the Etna Park, the Etna Wine Forum concludes its most attended edition, confirming Biancavilla as a hub of culture, taste, and identity.

See you in 2026 for a new journey through the scents, colors, and stories of Etna wine.