Sicily - What's on in September: Grape harvests; and couscous, pizza and ice-cream festivals

Aug. 28, 2012 - PRLog -- Grape harvest:  With massive vineyards covering an area even greater than the vineyards of Bordeaux and Chile, the grape harvest in Sicily is worth shouting about.  Experience the harvest first-hand and find out about wine-making during a stay at Cantine Virzì, a working winery producing high-quality Sicilian wine. Cellar and vineyard tours and wine-tastings are available.  The estate also has a large pool and restaurant.

Prices at Cantine Virzì start at £115 per night in a one-bedroom apartment (sleeps two) with living room, bathroom and terrace with views of the vineyards, with soloSicily.

Cous Cous Fest (25-30 September):  Forget traditional Italian pasta and risotto - if you find yourself on Sicily's northwest coast in September, you'll discover that couscous is king.  A sharp reminder of Sicily's north African gastromonic heritage, San Vito lo Capo's Cous Cous Fest attracts chefs from as far afield as Algeria, France, Israel, Morocco and Tunisia, each competing for the coveted 'Best Couscous' title'; a selection of delicacies ranging from Lebanese tabouleh to couscous with coconut milk is served in the gastronomic village; and there are free evening concerts.

Considered by many to be Italy's top beach, San Vito lo Capo sits on the edge of the Zingaro Nature Reserve in northwest Sicily.  soloSicily has a selection of self-catering properties in the area, starting at £1020 per week in September at Villa Sirena (sleeps 4).

Pizza Fest (13-15 September):  If you needed an excuse to visit Sicily in September, Pizza Fest, in the small seaside village of Seccagrande in southern Sicily, is designed to showcase all that is great about this area.  A pop-up pizza kitchen and bar on the beach, and accompanying entertainment programme, attracts locals and tourists for a last summer fling.

soloSicily has several properties available in the area, including Seagate at Borgo Bonsignore, or Nilla, a 3-bedroom villa with pool and large garden, in Seccagrande, where one week in September has been reduced by over £300 to £1730 (sleeps 6).

Sherbeth Festival (6-9 September):  Sicily may well be the best place for frozen treats in gelato-crazed Italy: after all, where else do ice-cream sandwiches constitute a mid-morning snack?  Sicily's international Sherbeth Festival (named after the Arabic word for a 'sorbet') sees the transformation of Cefalù's historical centre into an ice-cream village, generating the daily consumption of over 7,000 kilos of ice-cream in a variety of flavours as diverse as macadamia nut, fig, cinnamon, rooisbos tea and pippin apple.  The festival also offers an evening concert programme.

Stay at Villa Costanza, a 4-bedroom villa (sleeps 8) in the hills above Cefalù, with large private pool, chef service and optional boat and quad bike hire.  One week in September has been reduced by 10% to £2445 with www.soloSicily.com.

soloSicily features accommodation in apartments, villas and boutique hotels throughout inland and coastal Sicily.  For further information, visit http://www.soloSicily.com or tel. 020 7193 0158.

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28 August 2012