# Etna's north slope from Catania: a winery tasting among lava flows and lunch at Cave Ox, in Solicchiata

Less than an hour from Catania: nerello mascalese vines over lava flows, a booked tasting in Castiglione di Sicilia and Etna cooking at Cave Ox.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/italy/sicily/etna/itineraries/etna-north-slope-wine-tasting-cave-ox-day-from-catania · Revisado: 2026-11-12

## El día
- 09:00 · Salida: 1 h by car (Motorway towards Messina, Fiumefreddo exit and road 120 via Linguaglossa)
- 10:00 · Winery tastings on the northern slope, in Castiglione di Sicilia (Planeta Sciaranuova or Cottanera · always by reservation · the wineries do not publish prices) · Planeta
  - 4 min by car, 1,9 km
- 13:00 · Cave Ox, restaurant, pizzeria and wine cellar in Solicchiata (Wednesday to Sunday · book by phone or WhatsApp) · Cave Ox, restaurant, pizzeria and wine cellar in Solicchiata, €€
- 15:30 · Vuelta (In Catania around 16:30)

Etna's north slope is wine country: between Passopisciaro, Solicchiata and Castiglione di Sicilia the vines grow on black-stone terraces over old lava flows, at altitudes that elsewhere in Sicily would be mountain. This plan is simple: a winery visit with tasting in the morning, Etna cooking at Cave Ox and back to Catania in mid-afternoon. The important thing is to book both and to have someone who does not drink do the driving.

## Getting there from Spain

By plane to Catania, with direct flights from several Spanish cities, and by hire car. The plan leaves from Catania: on the motorway towards Messina, Fiumefreddo exit and the 120 road via Linguaglossa, in a little under an hour you reach Castiglione di Sicilia. If you want to sleep in the area, Linguaglossa is nine minutes from Cave Ox.

## The day, hour by hour

9:00 · Leave Catania. On the A18 towards Messina to the Fiumefreddo exit and then along the 120 road, which climbs among vines towards Randazzo.

10:00 · Tasting at a winery on the north slope. Choose one when booking. At Planeta, the Sciaranuova estate is at about 850 m, among flows from 1614, with carricante and nerello mascalese; it offers a vertical Etna tasting, a tour of old vintages or a tasting with breads and cheeses, each with its own booking on the website. Cottanera, in the Iannazzo district, organises its tasting itineraries by phone (+39 391 393 9073) or by email. Neither publishes the price. Allow about two hours.

13:00 · Lunch at Cave Ox. On Via Nazionale in Solicchiata, a few minutes away. Order the fusilloni with Bronte pistachio (€18), the maccheroni with ragù (€16) or the bistecca etnea by weight to share, or a wood-fired pizza. The house cellar has Etna wines. Open Wednesday to Sunday from 12:00 to 15:00.

15:30 · Return. Via Linguaglossa and the motorway; in Catania at about 16:30.

## If it is Tuesday or you want to stay

On Tuesday Cave Ox is closed: eat at the Ristorante Veneziano, at the entrance to Randazzo, which is open at lunchtime Tuesday to Sunday and is known for its mushrooms and Nebrodi black pork. If you prefer not to go back to Catania, sleep at Shalai, in Linguaglossa, and dine in its Michelin-starred restaurant.

## Cómo llegar

### By car
About 55 minutes from Catania. It is the practical way, but the tasting means someone who does not drink must drive.

### Without a car
Only on a Saturday or a weekday: the Circumetnea train runs from Randazzo to Linguaglossa, Giarre and Riposto along the north slope. You need to confirm with the winery how to get there from the station.

## Consejos

### Book both
The wineries receive only with a booking and Cave Ox fills up at weekends.

### Choose who drives
A tasting and a lunch with Etna wine do not mix with the wheel.

### Come at harvest time
In September and October the vineyards are in full activity.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### How much does the day cost?
Lunch at Cave Ox, between €30 and €45 per person. The wineries do not publish the price of their tastings: ask when booking.

### Which days are best?
Wednesday to Saturday. Cave Ox is closed on Monday and Tuesday; on Sunday, confirm that the winery receives visitors.

### Which wines do you taste?
Those of the Etna denomination: reds of nerello mascalese and whites of carricante.

### How do I get there from Spain?
By plane to Catania and a hire car; Castiglione di Sicilia is less than an hour away.