Gloved hands cutting a bunch of black grapes

The experiences

Sicily is learnt with the hands

In the cellar, the kitchen, the olive grove, on a boat and on the roads to the temples. For those staying here and for those passing through for a day.

Wine poured into glasses outdoors
Hands shaping a nest of tagliatelle
An outdoor back massage
Hands cutting a bunch of grapes
Olives on the branch at sunset
Tomato sauce poured into jars
A boat below the cliffs
The columns of the temple at Selinunte

Choose

  • The tasting Four wines and the oil, with the people who make them. Two hours, all year.
  • The cooking class Three hours in the kitchen with the osteria, then lunch.
  • The massages In your room or under the olives, with the house oil.
  • The harvest A day in the vineyard, late July to mid-September.
  • The olives Picking by hand in October and November, and the new oil on bread.
  • Sauce day In late August the tomatoes are pressed and the jars sealed.
  • By boat From Porto Palo along the coast, until sunset.
  • Western Sicily Selinunte, Segesta, the Cave di Cusa, with a guide and driver.

The experiences

Twelve ways to spend the day

Book at reception or by writing to us, even the day before. Prices are per person and indicative; the seasonal ones depend on the weather and the fields.

In the house

Wine being poured into glasses on a tray outdoors

The tasting

The estate's four wines and the oil from three cultivars, poured by the people who make them. In the cellar or under the olive tree, with house bread and preserves.

  • Grillo, Inzolia, Nero d'Avola, Nero Mascalese
  • The oil with bread and preserves
  • A bottle of your choice to take home
Duration
2 h
From
45 € per person

When JFMAMJJASOND

Hands shaping a nest of fresh tagliatelle on a board

The cooking class

A morning in the kitchen with the osteria: you make the pasta, cook a main with whatever the garden gave that week, then sit down to eat it.

  • Three hours in the kitchen with the cook
  • Lunch, which you cooked
  • The recipes, written down
Duration
3 h
From
95 € per person

When JFMAMJJASOND

An outdoor back massage, the therapist's hands

The massages

In your room or in the shade of the olive grove, with the house oil. Relaxing, deep-tissue, or a foot massage after a day at Selinunte.

  • Fifty minutes
  • In your room or the garden
  • Estate extra virgin olive oil
Duration
50 min
From
80 € per person

When JFMAMJJASOND

On the estate, with the season

Gloved hands cutting a bunch of grapes from the vine

The harvest

A day in the vineyard with us, from late July to mid-September: you pick, eat a packed lunch between the rows and taste last year's wines.

  • Picking with the crew
  • A packed lunch in the vineyard
  • A tasting of our wines
Duration
1 giorno
From
60 € per person

When JFMAMJJASOND

Green olives on the branch, backlit at sunset

The olive picking

In October and November we pick by hand. We tell the family story, explain how the oil is made and finish with a technical tasting and warm bread.

  • Hand picking in the grove
  • The story of the mill
  • A technical tasting of the oil
Duration
1 giorno
From
50 € per person

When JFMAMJJASOND

Hands pouring tomato sauce into jars

Sauce day

In late August the garden tomatoes are pressed and jarred for winter, the way it has always been done. It ends with a feast of pasta alla Norma.

  • Pressing the tomatoes
  • Jars to take home
  • The pasta alla Norma feast
Duration
1 giorno
From
45 € per person

When JFMAMJJASOND

A flock of sheep in an olive field

The zabinata

From 20 March, the feast of the zabina: hot sheep's ricotta straight from the pot, with the cheesemakers of Agareni. You talk to the shepherds and taste hand-made cheese.

  • Hot ricotta straight from the pot
  • Meeting the Agareni cheesemakers
  • A cheese tasting
Duration
1 mattina
From
35 € per person

When JFMAMJJASOND

Out, in western Sicily

The columns of the temple at Selinunte among the scrub

Western Sicily

A day with a driver and a guide: Selinunte, Segesta, the Cave di Cusa quarries and the salt pans. You leave after breakfast and are back for dinner.

  • Driver and guide for the day
  • Entrance fees included
  • Lunch somewhere we choose
Duration
1 giorno
From
160 € per person

When JFMAMJJASOND

The Porto Palo coast with vineyards running down to the sea

The sea and its museum

Half a day in Sciacca: the harbour, the museum of the sea and the ceramic workshops. With a fish lunch, if you like.

  • Transfer to Sciacca
  • A visit to the museum of the sea
  • The harbour and the workshops
Duration
mezza giornata
From
90 € per person

When JFMAMJJASOND

A boat near the cliffs along the coast

By boat

From Porto Palo, half a day along the coast: the coves, a swim offshore, back at sunset.

  • Boat with skipper, half a day
  • A swim offshore
  • Fruit and wine on board
Duration
mezza giornata
From
120 € per person

When JFMAMJJASOND

Two riders along a country path

On horseback

Two hours between vineyards and dunes with a local stable. For those who have never ridden and for those who never get off.

  • Two hours with an instructor
  • Beginners and experienced riders
  • Helmet and transfer
Duration
2 h
From
60 € per person

When JFMAMJJASOND

A white road between vineyards and olive trees

By bike and quad

The white roads between vines and olives, down to the sea. Bikes and quads are booked at reception.

  • Bikes, e-bikes or quads
  • Route maps
  • A house picnic, on request
Duration
mezza giornata
From
25 € per person

When JFMAMJJASOND

The highlighted months are when the experience runs. We announce the exact dates of the harvest, the olives, the sauce and the zabinata a few weeks ahead.

The land

Where we go, and how far

Western Sicily

  1. 8 min by car Porto Palo
  2. 10 min by car Menfi
  3. 15 min by car Selinunte
  4. 25 min by car Sciacca
  5. 55 min by car Segesta

Approximate driving times from the relais. For Segesta, Palermo and Trapani we arrange a driver.

How it works

Three steps

  1. 01

    Write to us, or ask at reception

    Tell us which experience, how many you are, and when. Even the day before, for those in the house.

  2. 02

    We confirm a date and time

    Within one working day. For the outings it depends on the weather and on our local partners: boat, stable, guide.

  3. 03

    You pay at the relais

    At the end of your stay, or on the day if you are not staying with us. Cash, cards, bank transfer.

Questions

Before you book

Are the experiences only for guests of the relais?

No. The tasting, the cooking class, the massages and the days in the fields are open to everyone, with a booking.

In which language?

Italian and English. For the western Sicily guide also French and German, on request.

With children?

The harvest, sauce day and the zabinata are family days and children are welcome, free up to twelve. The boat and the horses from six years up.

What if it rains?

The experiences in the house go ahead. For the boat, the horses and the fields we move the date, at no cost.

Booking

Tell us the date

One line with the experience, the day and how many you are. We answer within one working day.