Sicilia en Primeur

Sicilia en Primeur is one of the wine festivals that anchors the Sicily calendar, drawing both local visitors and international wine travellers each year. It is held at Palermo (rotating Sicilian cities) in Italy, in the heart of one of Italy's most distinctive wine areas. It has been running since 2003, with a long unbroken local tradition behind it. The most important annual showcase of Sicilian wine, organised by Assovini Sicilia (the island's wine producer association founded in 1998 by Diego Planeta, Giacomo Rallo and Lucio Tasca d'Almerita). Around 100 international journalists and 54 member wineries gather for tours, masterclasses, the unveiling of new vintages, and conferences on Sicilian wine. The 2026 edition returns to Palermo from 11-15 May. Italian anteprima events are the moments when each appellation's new vintages are formally introduced to the wine trade and the press. Producers typically pour current and library vintages side by side, with masterclasses on the vintage character, expert panels assessing the year's growing conditions, and structured comparisons across producers. The events serve as the entry point for the new wines into the international market, drawing buyers, sommeliers and journalists from around the world. Most anteprima events are weighted toward trade and press attendance, but include public-facing days or open masterclasses during the run of the event for wine enthusiasts willing to plan ahead. The event is organised by Assovini Sicilia, which sets the tone and direction of the programme each year. Sicily produces a broad range of wines across Italy's largest region, with Nero d'Avola, Frappato (the basis of Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG, Sicily's only DOCG) and Etna's volcanic reds (Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio) leading the red category. Whites include Grillo, Catarratto, Carricante (Etna), Inzolia, Zibibbo (the Pantelleria Muscat) and the historic fortified Marsala. The island has been a major area of wine quality investment over the past twenty years, with strong wine tourism infrastructure especially around Mount Etna. The 2026 edition is scheduled for 11-15 May 2026. Cost details: Trade and press event (registration required). Full programme, ticketing and updated information are published on the official site at https://www.assovinisicilia.it/. Visitors are advised to check directly with the organiser for the latest schedule, as Italian festival programmes are sometimes updated close to the event date. Sicily is reached via Palermo, Catania or Trapani airports, with a robust ferry network from mainland Italy. Wine festival visits combine naturally with Sicilian cultural tourism: the Greek temples at Agrigento and Selinunte, the Roman mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale, Mount Etna's volcanic landscape (with cellar visits and lava-field hiking), Palermo's Arabo-Norman heritage, and Baroque Noto and Modica. Sicilian cuisine pairs the wines with caponata, pasta alla Norma, swordfish, arancini, granita and cassata.