Etna Wine Forum, the Etna wine festival

Focus on tastings, masterclasses, show cooking, talks and tasting tables

Guests included starred chefs Heinz Beck, Cristina Bowerman and Vincenzo Candiano.

“Etna Wine Forum OFF” is born, the event that will bring Biancavilla and the wineries of the southwest slope on October 20th to the Waldorf Astoria in Rome.

With its fifth edition, the Etna Wine Forum renews its connection with Biancavilla, the event's birthplace, and its commitment to promoting the winemaking excellence of Etna's southwest slopes, an extraordinary territory whose unique soil and climate characteristics give rise to wines with an unmistakable identity.

The details of the program were announced today during the press conference at Villa delle Favare, in the presence of the mayor of Biancavilla, Antonio Bonanno , and the president of the Italian Sommelier Foundation of Sicily, Paolo Di Caro, councilor Vincenzo Amato, Fabio Catania (the mayor's expert), Leonardo Farinella (ARS management), Giuseppe Santangelo (ARS Biancavilla representative).

Among the main new features of the 5th edition - scheduled for the next 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th October at Villa delle Favare in Biancavilla - the show cooking hosted by Ruggero Sardo and Andrea Lo Cicero, featuring the famous starred chefs: Heinz Beck ( La Pergola dell'hotel Rome Cavalieri, 3 Michelin stars), Cristina Bowerman ( Glass Hostaria , Rome, 1 Michelin star), Vincenzo Candiano ( Locanda Don Serafino , Ragusa Ibla, 1 Michelin star).

The event is significantly enriched in content: press tours, masterclasses, talks, conferences, in-depth analyses, tastings, and book presentations, with the aim of highlighting the production areas of the southwest slope and fostering dialogue between the world of viticulture, wine journalism, and industry professionals. Among the opportunities for discussion is a masterclass dedicated to two terroirs: Nerello Mascalese and Alto Adige Pinot Noir.

On the final day, Sunday, October 11 , Sicilian wineries on the southwest side will be the protagonists of the tasting tables set up in the courtyard of Villa delle Favare. Culture will also be given ample space thanks to the partnership with the Catania Book Festival , which is promoting "Parlare DiVino," a series of conversations about wine with authors.

The other new feature of this edition is “Etna Wine Forum OFF,” the event that will bring Biancavilla and the wineries on the southwest side on October 20th to the Waldorf Astoria in Rome, Bibenda's prestigious headquarters, for an extraordinary double tasting.

"The Etna Wine Forum reaches its fifth edition, and it does so with the strength of an event that, year after year, has earned a prominent place in the national food and wine scene. Today, we can proudly say: this event has become a symbol of our region's excellence, a long-awaited and recognized event," commented Biancavilla Mayor Antonio Bonanno . "The presence, in this 2026 edition, of multi-starred chefs and wineries that showcase the best of Etna's wine production is tangible proof of this. But what makes us particularly proud is another aspect: in recent years, thanks to the Etna Wine Forum, new entrepreneurial ventures in the sector have found space and visibility, startups that have been able to present themselves to the public and industry professionals, grow, and make themselves known. This means that the event is not just a showcase, but a true driver of opportunities for the region," concludes Bonanno.

The event will be covered by the Radio Amore group, with live broadcasts, interviews and in-depth reports, and by the Antenna Sicilia programme “Isola Verde” , hosted by Ruggero Sardo, while Noemi Moschitta will be livening up the day on Sunday.

Promoted by the Biancavilla municipal administration, the Etna Wine Forum benefits from BPAS as its main sponsor, the collaboration of the Italian Sommelier Foundation as its technical partner, and the patronage of the Regional Department of Local Authorities and Public Administration, the Regional Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Mediterranean Fisheries, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry (MASAF), Confagricoltura, and the Etna Park. The event also benefits from the collaboration of the Biancavilla Pro Loco and the partnership with the ARS (Regional Association of Sommeliers) and the School of Crafts at the professional center.

"The Etna Wine Forum demonstrates the success of a region with a strong identity like the southwest side of Etna. This landmark event extends beyond the island's borders this year with "Etna Wine Forum OFF," featuring wineries from the southwest side in an extraordinary double tasting dedicated to the Biancavilla area," said Paolo Di Caro, president of the Italian Sommelier Federation of Sicily .