Baroque wine and olive oil tour
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Tour descriptions
Your English-speaking driver will greet you at your hotel and your itinerary will start with a scenic drive to an acclaimed winery in the Cerasuolo DOCG area (territory of Ragusa).
We have selected two experiences that encapsulate the true character of this area and, once arrived at the winery, we will be introduced to the indigenous grape varietals and traditional farming system.
The private tour takes approximately 1.5 hours, taking you behind the scenes to learn about the wine-making process. The wine estate tour will be followed by a structured private tasting that includes expert commentary upn high-quality and award winning wines, made from 100% autochthonous grape varietals.
During this wonderful journey, you'll enjoy a visit to a farm where an extraordinary olive oil is produced. Here we will taste the exquisite, award-winning D.O.P Iblean olive oil accompanied by homemade bread and a selection of local cheeses and cured meats.
With the help of the producer, we will learn when an oil is considered extra virgin. By simply comparing different qualities we'll be able to determine which olive oils meet the criteria to carry the "extra virgin" designation and those that have negative tastes that professionals refer to as defects.
Since you are near beautiful towns rich in Baroque architecture, your chauffeur will be happy to stop in one of them to give you the chance to relax before driving you back to your city accommodation where your tour will conclude in the late afternoon.
Note: While your chauffeur service is private, please be aware that during the wine tours at certain wineries, you may be grouped with other wine enthusiasts. However, rest assured that all tastings and lunch will be conducted in a private setting.
Historical informations
From a geological standpoint, this area of Sicily is an extention of the African plate and the range of mountains is composed of white limestone rocks, characterized by Karst topography. Originally a plateau, rivers have eroded the landscape, forming numerous deep canyons. In the coastal area sandstone is also present. In some areas, such as that of Monte Lauro (once part of a submerged volcanic complex), volcanic rocks are also present. Historically, the origins of the major cities in the area can be traced back to the 2nd millennium B.C., when there were several Sicel settlements in the area. The current district of Ragusa ( the capital city of the Province of Ragusa) has been identified as Hybla Heraea.
The ancient city came into contact with nearby Greek colonies and grew thanks to the nearby port of Camarina. Following a short period of Carthaginian rule, it fell into the hands of the ancient Romans and the Byzantines, who fortified the city and built a large castle. Ragusa was occupied by the Arabs in 848 AD, remaining under their rule until the 11th century, when the Normans conquered it. Selected as County seat, its first Count was Geoffrey, son of Count Ruggero of Sicily.
Thereafter Ragusa's history followed the events of the Kingdom of Sicily, created in the first half of the twelfth century. In 1693 Ragusa was devastated by a huge earthquake. Following this catastrophe the city was largely rebuilt, and many Baroque buildings from this time remain in the city. Most of the population moved to a new settlement in the former district of Patro, calling this new municipality "Ragusa Superiore" (Upper Ragusa) and the ancient city "Ragusa Inferiore" (Lower Ragusa). The two cities remained separated until 1926, when they were fused together to become a provincial capital in 1927 at the expense of Modica, the former capital and the most populous and important city in the region since 1296. Nowadays, despite the lack of infrastructures, stockbreeding and agriculture generate enormous profits which make the Province of Ragusa the richest area in Sicily.
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