The Sicilian Wine Harvest with Isabelle Legeron
26 September - 3 October 2026
An immersive wine and culinary retreat at Rocca delle Tre Contrade, hosted by Isabelle Legeron, Master of Wine, founder of RAW WINE, and acclaimed author of "Natural Wine: an introduction to organic & biodynamic wines made naturally".
Learn about the emerging wine areas of Sicily, enjoy exclusive access to wine makers and experience the Sicilian wine harvest first hand during this 7 day all inclusive retreat. The retreat will feature a unique introduction to the Sicilian culinary tradition, along with dedicated wine pairings.
An overview
Rising proudly between Mount Etna and the sparkling waters of the Ionian Sea, Rocca delle Tre Contrade is one of the finest luxury villas in the Mediterranean.
Over the years it has acquired a well-earned reputation for its exquisite cuisine, its warm hospitality, and its refined, sophisticated accommodation.
Rocca delle Tre Contrade's cellar, which is filled with the owners' impressive selection of Sicilian wines, echoes with history, for the property was built in 1850 as part of a large wine producing estate. With its sense of majesty and its commanding position atop its very own panoramic hill, it was one of the most impressive Etna wineries in its heyday.
It was painstakingly and lovingly restored to its former splendour by the current owners in 2012, and today its extensive grounds are home to evergreen citrus groves, vegetable gardens, fruit orchards, evocative terraces, and a beguiling, L-shaped infinity pool. .
We are thrilled to have Isabelle Legeron join us at Rocca delle Tre Contrade for an immersive week exploring Sicily’s rapidly evolving wine scene and discovering how a new generation of winemakers are once again creating high-quality Sicilian wines.
"We are extremely proud to have Isabelle from the RAW WINE community with us here in Sicily for this extraordinary and unique week long retreat dedicated to natural wines and authentic cuisine. We have a shared vision and respect for low-intervention agriculture, sustainable production methods, pure flavours and exceptional wines, and are looking forward to letting you experience it first-hand.
Jon Moslet, owner of Rocca delle Tre Contrade
Meet your host, Isabelle
Hosting this week-long, full-immersion experience for wine lovers and gastronomes is Isabelle Legeron, France’s first female Master of Wine (MW) and founder of the worldwide RAW WINE phenomenon.
Isabelle is one of only 419 MWs worldwide. Early on in her career, she made a conscious decision to dedicate her work to helping people think about what is in their wine glass and to promoting the need for transparency in the wine world.
In 2012, she created RAW WINE, which has since grown to become the world’s largest community of low-intervention organic, biodynamic and natural wine producers, with fairs, a wine club and online shop. She is also the author of "Natural Wine: An introduction to organic and biodynamic wines" and a curator for a variety of fine dining establishments and luxury resorts.
Here's what she has to say about the chance to host a retreat dedicated to Sicilian wines:
“Sicily is an island with an extraordinary wealth of winemaking traditions, diverse terroirs and indigenous grape varieties, and I've been a fan ever since I first visited the island some 15 years ago to spend time with my good winemaking friends based there. It’s a place with so many different identities and a tradition for marrying beautiful sophistication with simplicity.
"During this week, we'll take a deep dive into the rich heritage of the island and explore a vibrant natural wine scene awash with incredible wines. I'll introduce you to my favourite producers, and with them we'll share the experience around the table, pairing their wines with the cuisine of Rocca delle Tre Contrade's magnificent in-house chef, Dora."
“I have long been an admirer of Isabelle’s energy and determination. She is a real power house with an international reputation and has truly achieved something hugely distinctive.” Jancis Robinson
“Standard bearer for the natural wine movement, Legeron is one of the 50 most powerful women in wine.” The Drinks Business magazine
Meet Dora
Dora Maugeri is Rocca delle Tre Contrade's brilliant, enthusiastic and beloved resident chef. Cooking ever since she could walk, when she would follow her grandmother into the kitchen to help, and always with a smile on her face, Dora has a flair, a generosity and a passion for food that is contagious.
Her cooking is a multi-sensory spectacle of authentic tastes, flavours and aromas, and watching her transform the fresh produce that's brought in every day from the nearby markets and from Rocca delle Tre Contrade's own kitchen garden, is a sight to behold.
She is the nonna we would all like to have, and her specialities include: exquisite raw seafood dishes, which, unbeknown to most, have actually been served for generations along Sicily's shores; mouthwatering roast vegetable dishes; fish, seafood and meat secondi; arancini al ragù (the archetypal Sicilian street food); and cannoli with fresh sweetened ricotta.
“Dora stepped in to teach us how to make arancini, cannoli, almond semifreddo, and the heavenly cakes that were always available for guests to snack on.” Food & Wine magazine
Highlights, experiences and wine focuses
- an introduction to low intervention wines made in Sicily, including the main areas of production and grape varieties; specific wine pairings by Isabelle with the aim of giving an overall idea of the island and its wine scene (see below for more information on wine focuses)
- learning about Sicily's emerging wine scene and its indigenous grapes through daily themed wine tastings and lessons, including participating in the wine harvest on Etna; meeting a handful of Sicilian wine producers face to face and taste their wines while listening to their personal stories
- an introduction to what to look for in Sicilian wines, whether you're a collector, a wine lover, a repeat or first-time visitor to Sicily
- tasting the authentic flavours of Sicilian food through daily gourmet meals around the villa's communal table, for lunch, aperitif and dinner, with wine pairings by Isabelle Legeron
- exploring local markets, enjoying rustic lunches, and visiting exclusive boutique wineries
- experiencing the wine harvest
- learning how to cook Sicilian specialties such as cannoli, arancini and caponata
- indulging in the infinite, luxurious charms of Rocca delle Tre Contrade, relaxing in its gardens, strolling through the lemon orchards, swimming in the pool, recuperating energies with a massage, or even playing a set or two of tennis on the property's clay court
Wines from western Sicily
Winemaker: Nino Barraco: "My idea is not to create a 'perfect' wine, but a wine that pours emotions!"
Wine from Mount Etna and the volcanic minor islands
Winemaker: Alice Bonaccorsi of Valcerasa, plus wines from Salina and Pantelleria
Excursion: a private visit to the Valcerasa winery on Mount Etna, which produces low-intervention wines. You'll learn about the fertile volcanic soil and microclimates, and, as it will be vendemmia-time (the harvest), you'll be able to see the vineyard as a hive of activity, and gain insights into the cultivation, the picking (by hand, as has been the tradition for centuries), and the pressing of the grapes. Then, after a little foraging, you'll have the opportunity to make fresh sheep's ricotta cheese while enjoying an al fresco picnic lunch under the vineyard's mulberry tree.
Wines from southern and central Sicily
Winemakers: Arianna Occhipinti, Giusto Occhipinti, Lamoresca and Salvatore Marino
Excursion: a wine-harvest lunch in the region of Ragusa, home to indigenous grapes such as frappato and nero d'Avola. You'll meet legendary winemaker Giusto Occhipinti of COS, who pioneered the use of terracotta amphorae in Sicily, and visit Arianna Occhipinti, who, inspired by her uncle, embarked on a remarkable winemaking career of her own.
Skin contact
Winemaker: Francesco Guccione: "The farmer's approach needs to be that of an artist, with the ability to listen to what his vineyard is telling him."
"Extreme" Etna
Winemakers: Sonia Gambino (Gustinella)
Excursion: a return to Mount Etna, but this time proceeding directly to one of the most remote and high-altitude wine-producing areas in Europe. Around the town of Maletto, grapes are grown on small plots at an altitude of up to 1,300m above sea level. Traditionally the wine produced was only for the personal use of local families. You'll meet Sonia Gambino and hear her incredible personal story about how she, as a young winemaker, settled in her grandfather's town of birth, discovered abandoned wild vineyards, and turned her hand to breathing new life into the area's viticultural traditions.
your Accommodation at Rocca delle Tre Contrade
Rocca delle Tre Contrade occupies a stunningly panoramic position atop its own hill on Sicily’s east coast. Uninterrupted 360-degree views take in the sparkling Ionian Sea to one side and the fertile flanks and lava peak of Mount Etna to the other. The views of this former aristocratic estate are further enhanced by the intense greens and citrus flashes of the villa’s grounds, which feature lemon groves, fruit orchards and vegetable gardens. The magnificence of Mother Nature is rivalled only the amenities on offer, which include delightfully refurbished, generously proportioned interiors, 12 luxuriously finished en-suite bedrooms, a spectacular 25-metre, south-facing infinity pool (ranked one the 100 most beautiful pools in the world by Condé Nast Traveller), a clay tennis court, and a spa area, including a steam room (hammam) and a well-equipped gym.
Close by is Mount Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano (a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site), Taormina, Catania, and a host of other fascinating towns, many of which are also designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The culinary excellence and welcoming hospitality of Rocca delle Tre Contrade has been mentioned by Food & Wine magazine (US), The Daily Telegraph (UK), The Times (UK), BBC Good Food magazine (UK), Elle magazine (UK), House & Garden (UK) magazine, Bon Appetit magazine (US), Foodism magazine (UK) and The Sophisticated Traveller (AUS).
*Please note that the closest airport to Rocca delle Tre Contrade is Catania International Airport in Sicily.
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