Pedalino Wine Festa! 2025

September 24 – September 30, 2025

  • Celebrate with the village at Pedalino’s Sagra Della Vendemmia
  • Visit the historic chocolate-making baroque city of Modica
  • Visit Mount Etna and sample wines from the volcanic soils
  • Tour local farms and learn Sicilian recipes to recreate at home

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Trips Starting at $3,999

Day 1: Wednesday, September 24 – Arrival and Welcome

We arrive at Catania (CTA) or Comiso (CIY) airport and make our way to Chiaramonte Villa, our home port for the first part of the trip. After settling in, we have some free time to explore the villa grounds. The evening culminates in a delightful welcome dinner at Sardo Olive Grove, setting a warm tone for the adventures ahead.

Day 2: Thursday, September 25 – Wine and Charm

Breakfast at the Villa starts our day. We then head to a local winery for an exquisite wine tasting. Post tasting, a delicious luncheon awaits us at a private home with a breathtaking view. After returning to the villa and a bit of free time, we will enjoy a Cena and Passeggiata (dinner and stroll) in the charming town of Chiaramonte Gulfi.

Day 3: Friday, September 26 – Farm and Flavor

After breakfast, we drive to Giannavi, an agriturismo. There, we tour the farm and participate in a cooking class. The lunch is a highlight, featuring fresh farm produce. We have leisure time to relax at the villa in the afternoon.

Day 4: Saturday, September 27 – Market and Modica

Our day starts with a visit to the bustling Vittoria Market. We then explore Modica, experiencing its rich history and culture. A luncheon at a Sicilian chef’s private home satisfies our hunger before we leisurely drive through the countryside. We return to the villa in our free time until the evening when we attend the Pedalino Wine Festival.

Day 5: Sunday, September 28 – Wine Festival Fun

Following breakfast, we enjoy another day at the Pedalino Wine Festival. In the afternoon, we return to the Villa with time to relax before dinner at Il Gerardo.

Day 6: Monday, September 29 – Etna and Departure

After breakfast and checking out of the villa, we embark on a journey to Mount Etna and a wine tasting. Later, we check into a hotel and have free time in the city to sightsee and shop. Our farewell dinner is in Acireale.

Day 7: Tuesday, September 30 – Farewell

Depending on our departure times, we have breakfast and are transported back to Comiso or Catania airport for our flights home.

Program Schedule

Day 1 Wednesday, Sept 24

  • Airport Arrivals CTA or CIY
  • 4 p.m.- 6 p.m. Arrivals at Chiaramonte Villa
  • Check-in
  • Free Time
  • 8 p.m. Welcome Dinner Sardo Olive Grove

Day 2 Thursday, Sept. 25

  • 9 a.m. Breakfast at Villa
  • 11 a.m. Wine Tasting Cantina Gulfi
  • 1 p.m. Luncheon at Projetto
  • 3 p.m. Return to Villa
  • Free Time – Evening
  • 8 p.m. Cena & Passeggiata in Chiaramonte

Day 3 Friday, Sept. 26

  • 8 a.m. Breakfast at Villa
  • 9 a.m. Departure for Giannavi (1-hour drive)
  • 10/10:30 Agritourismo Giannavi
  • Tour of the Farm and Cooking Class
  • Agriturismo Luncheon
  • 4 p.m. Villa
  • Free Time

Day 4 Saturday, Sept. 27

  • 8 a.m. Market Tour Vittoria
  • 10 a.m. Modica Tour
  • Luncheon at Paolo & Ingrid
  • 3 p.m. Return to Villa
  • Free Time
  • 8 p.m. Pedalino Wine Festival

Day 5 Sunday, Sept 28

  • 8 a.m. Breakfast at Villa
  • 9 a.m. Pedalino Wine Festival
  • 2 p.m. Return to Villa
  • Free Time
  • 6 p.m. Dinner at il Gerardo

Day 6 Monday, Sept 29

  • 8 a.m. Breakfast at Villa
  • (Checkout)
  • 9 a.m. Mount Etna & Wine Tasting
  • 4 p.m. Check-in Hotel
  • Free Time
  • 8 p.m. Dinner in Acireal

Day 7 Tuesday, Sept 30

  • Breakfast based on departure
  • Transport Back to Flights – Comiso or Catania

Likely last weekend of September/first weekend of October: Pistachio Festival (Sagra del Pistacchio), Bronte (near Mount Etna), Sicily

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The Fine Print

Program Fee Inclusions

The Fine Print

The per-person program fee includes 6 nights of hotel accommodation, most meals, daily cultural and culinary activities, cooking demos, tips/ gratuities on Lit’l Pond Productions, LLC meals, and other scheduled activities, hired transportation services, and expert guides.

What is not included in the Program Fee? Air travel, non-refundable passport fees, visas, excess baggage charges, optional excursions, extensions, meals not detailed in the itinerary, tips to tour escort and long-distance bus driver, expenses incurred during free periods, airport taxes that are collected on the spot in foreign airports, departures taxes, airport fees, airline and federal security fees and ticket handling fees, surcharges due to changes in currency, any mandatory new or increased fees/taxes/fuel surcharge (if any) levied on airline tickets, hotels, incidental expenses in hotels, hotel room upgrades, and transport to/from the airports. Transportation from Catania or Comiso airports on arrival and departure days, as outlined in the itinerary, are included. The Land Package Travel program begins after you arrive at the hotel accommodation. If traveling outside the arrival and departure days, participants must make their round-trip travel arrangements and join the program at the hotel accommodations. Lit’l Pond Productions, LLC, Daniel Mellman, and Michelle Moran are not responsible for the participant in any way when the participant is not part of the main group.

Luggage

Please check with your air carrier directly for their specific baggage liability limitation. Some airlines are strictly adhering to their policy of one carry-on bag. Airlines are not responsible for any act or event during the time the participants are not on board their planes or conveyances. Luggage travels at the risk of the participant, and Lit’l Pond Productions, LLC is not responsible for any delay, loss, or damage to it or its contents. When issued, the participant’s contract in use by the airline shall constitute the sole contract between the airline and the participant. Any transportation companies mentioned herein shall have or incur no responsibility for liability to any traveler aside from their liability as common carriers.

Cancellations

June Tours. If canceled before April 15, 2024, by the traveler for any reason, deposits and program payments will be reimbursed in full, except for a cancellation fee of $375. Between April 15, 2024, and May 31, 2024, 50% of the total tour price, including the deposit, is forfeited. As of June 1, 2024, no refund is possible.

September tours. If canceled before July 1, 2024, by the traveler for any reason, deposits and program payments will be reimbursed in full, except for a cancellation fee of $375. Between July 2024 and August 31, 2024, 50% of the total tour price, including the deposit, is forfeited. As of September 1, 2024, no refund is possible.

There are no exceptions to this policy. We understand that emergencies of all nature do arise. However, there are no exceptions to this cancellation policy. Of course, if the trip is canceled for reasons force majeure (such as the pandemic, war, or natural disaster), Lit’l Pond Productions, LLC will fully refund the registration.

Waiver

Participants waive and release Lit’l Pond Productions, LLC, Daniel Mellman and Michelle Moran, its affiliates, agents, directors, officers, and employees including any person or entity employed or utilized by Lit’l Pond Productions in any foreign country, from all claims arising from any injury, loss, damage, accident, delay, or expense resulting from events beyond its control, including without limitation, acts of God, war, terrorism, strikes, incidents of politically- motivated violence, sickness or quarantine, government restrictions or regulations, and, in the absence of its gross negligence, arising from the use of any vehicle or Lit’l Pond Productions selection of, or from any act or omission by any bus or car rental agency, steamship, airline, railroad, taxi or tour service, hotel service, hotel, restaurant, school, university, or other firm, agency, company or individual.

Participants understand that Lit’l Pond Productions, LLC will take pictures and videos during the tour that may appear on social media, online, and in email communications.
Lit’l Pond Productions.

Changes in Itineraries and Program Assignment

Lit’l Pond Productions, LLC, reserves the right to change fees, departure cities, itinerary sequence, trip direction, hotels, optional excursions, and activities. Lit’l Pond may cancel a program due to insufficient enrollment, unforeseen operational difficulties, lack of projected availability, or other reasons.

Medical & Travel Insurance

We will require all participants to procure medical insurance for their travel time. Proof of insurance should be submitted with final payment. While we cannot offer travel insurance for the cost of the trip or your air travel, here are three widely used travel insurance companies: Allianz, Travelex, Travel Guard by AIG.