On Etna the vines grow on narrow terraces carved into the lava and tended by hand; in Castiglione di Sicilia, amid those same lava flows, there is an 18-hole golf course. What to know about the wines before sitting down to dinner after your round.
The Picciolo course in Castiglione di Sicilia has tees set into the lava and a green guarded by an ancient lava flow. Castiglione di Sicilia is also one of the towns of the Etna DOC, and the wines grown on the same slopes, as volcanic as the landscape of the course, are the reason a golfer chooses not to head straight back to the room after a round. Here is what people drink on Etna and how it fits into a golf holiday.
Etna DOC: Sicily's second appellation
According to Wikipedia, the Etna DOC was established on 11 August 1968, the second in Sicily after Marsala. The Consortium's website sums up the area in a formula: "7 wines, 20 municipalities, 133 contrade and 3,000 years of viticulture", and reports (without giving the year of the data) 1,461 hectares under vine and 509 member producers. The zone covers 20 municipalities in the province of Catania, including Randazzo, Linguaglossa and Castiglione di Sicilia.
The landscape demands hard labour: vineyards on steep slopes, often terraced, where mechanisation is difficult and costs are high, what Wikipedia calls "heroic" viticulture. The Consortium speaks of wines with an "iconic minerality", produced in difficult conditions: eruptions have shaped the land and the terraces.
What you will taste: Rosso, Bianco, Rosato and Spumante
The styles are Etna Bianco (also Superiore), Etna Rosso (also Riserva), Etna Rosato and Etna Spumante, the last with at least 18 months of fermentation in the bottle. The grape varieties are Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio for the reds, and Carricante and Catarratto for the whites.
As a rule of thumb for those coming off the course: white first, red after, and a glass of water between the two.
Il Picciolo: course, hotel and Etna DOC at the table
The Picciolo Golf Club is an 18-hole par 72 of 5,870 metres, designed by Luigi Rota Caremoli in 1989 on 44 hectares at the foot of Etna. The green fee is reserved for players with a certified handicap or green card, and the 2026 price list asks 110 euros for 18 holes (90 for those staying at the resort). In winter the club is open from 8 am to 5 pm, in summer from 8 am to 7 pm, according to the hotel.
The Picciolo Etna Golf Resort has 100 rooms and suites, and its main restaurant is an invitation in itself: Olio & Vino is a 50-seat dining room built around Etna DOC wines and local oils, with tasting menus. At lunch you can head down to the osteria Il Palmento, in the clubhouse, renovated in 2026. From the hotel, according to the property, Linguaglossa (also a DOC town) is 8 minutes away, Taormina 25 and Catania 45.
Completing the trip: Verdura
Those continuing across Sicily can go from the Picciolo to the Verdura Golf Club in Sciacca, on the other side of the island, with 36 holes and a par 3 course, part of a five-star resort.
How to plan the day
Golf in the morning, winery in the afternoon: the visit is booked directly with the producer, who sets the times and terms. Guests staying at the Picciolo who want to avoid driving after a tasting can ask the hotel how to arrange it.
Curiosities
- A course in the lava. At the 5th hole of the Picciolo you tee off from tees set into the lava.
- Twenty municipalities, 133 contrade. According to the Consortium, the Etna DOC territory is divided into 133 contrade.
- Second after Marsala. According to Wikipedia, Etna is the second oldest Sicilian DOC.
Frequently asked questions
What are the wines of Etna?+
Etna Bianco, Etna Rosso, Etna Rosato and Etna Spumante. The reds are made with Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio, the whites with Carricante and Catarratto, according to Wikipedia.
Is Castiglione di Sicilia in the Etna DOC area?+
Yes, it is one of the 20 municipalities Wikipedia lists for the appellation, along with Randazzo and Linguaglossa.
How much does it cost to play at the Picciolo?+
The 2026 price list is 110 euros for 18 holes and 60 for nine for non-guests, and 90 and 55 euros for resort guests. A certified handicap or green card is required.
Since when has the Etna DOC existed?+
Since 11 August 1968, according to Wikipedia: the second Sicilian DOC after Marsala.
Where can you eat with Etna wines at the Picciolo?+
The resort has Olio & Vino, a 50-seat dining room built around Etna DOC wines and local oils, with tasting menus.
How far is the Picciolo from Catania airport?+
About 60 kilometres according to the hotel; the transfer can be booked through the hotel from 140 euros, depending on the number of people.
