PLANETA Brand Story

June 17, 2026

PLANETA: The winery that pioneered the future of Sicily

The Planeta family has been engaged in agriculture in Sicily for five centuries, from the 15th to the 17th. They began cultivating grapes 300 years ago, and in 1985, under the leadership of current head Diego Planeta, they established a prestigious winery that combines tradition and technology. In addition to their own winery, they are widely known for their efforts to improve the quality and recognition of Sicilian wine, thereby elevating the brand value of Sicilian wine as a whole.

The Founding Family's Challenging Story

The Planeta family in the early days of the winery (Santi, Francesca, Diego, Alessio from left)

The current Planeta family (Santi, Alessio, Francesca from left)

In the early 1990s, under the guidance of founder Diego Planeta, the younger generation—Alessio, Francesca, and Santi, then in their 20s—embarked on an unprecedented new challenge, which laid the foundation for today's PLANETA.

That challenge was to "create wines that showcase Sicily's potential to the world."

In 1994, the first winery, "Ulmo Winery," was established in Menfi, southwestern Sicily. From there, Planeta's "journey through Sicily" began.

This journey was also a challenge to explore the unique terroirs across Sicily and to produce top-quality wines that reflect the distinct charm of each region. While pursuing the potential of international grape varieties, Planeta also focused on researching and re-evaluating indigenous varieties, significantly elevating the value of Sicilian wine.

The "Chardonnay" that changed its fate

In 1995, Planeta's first vintage, "Chardonnay," was born.

This wine would later be hailed as "the wine that changed the value of Sicilian wine."

Alessio, who had studied winemaking in Burgundy as a young man, returned home with the dream of "making a barrel-aged Chardonnay in Sicily that could compete globally." His serious endeavor began with his encounter with winemaker Carlo Corino, who had long produced Chardonnay in Australia.

At the time, Sicily was strongly associated with mass-produced, low-priced wines. Amidst this, the challenge of using an international variety like Chardonnay to create a "Sicilian wine that could compete on the world stage" was met with much surprise.

Alessio made the wine, Francesca built the brand, and Santi delivered it to the world.

This success, created by the three young people, significantly rewrote the history of Sicilian wine and stands as a symbol of today's Planeta.

Exploring Terroir Across Sicily

Planeta continued its journey across Sicily.

In 1997, Planeta expanded to Vittoria in southern Sicily, a region home to Sicily's only DOCG, Cerasuolo di Vittoria. From its iron-rich, sandy soil, unique and distinctive wines are produced.

In 1998, a winery was established in Noto, the southernmost tip of Sicily. This land, named "Buonivini (delicious wines)," is known as a prestigious region for Nero d'Avola, characterized by strong sunlight and white limestone soil. Planeta took on the challenge of producing high-quality Nero d'Avola that reflects the character of this land.

In 2008, they moved to Etna, with its volcanic soil and cool alpine climate. They acquired vineyards on the particularly excellent northern slopes, now owning approximately 40 hectares. They produce wines that express Etna's terroir, primarily with Nerello Mascalese and Carricante.

Then, in 2011, the "journey through Sicily" reached its final destination: Capo Milazzo. In the land of "Mamertino DOC," reportedly beloved by the ancient Roman emperor Julius Caesar, they produce wines that reflect the history and uniqueness of this region, including the ancient Nocera variety.

Alessio Planeta's winemaking recognized worldwide

In 2023, Alessio Planeta, CEO and Head Winemaker of Planeta, received the "Winemaker of the Year" award from the globally renowned wine magazine Wine Enthusiast. This is a remarkable achievement, making him the fourth Italian and the first in 16 years to receive this honor.

Upon receiving the award, Alessio stated:

"It all started in this small Menfi, a small region far from the rest of the world, a region that was isolated until a few decades ago. To imagine that thanks to wine, we have traveled the world, delivering not only the quality of the wines we make but also a message about this land, brings an indescribably wonderful and deeply moving feeling. It's truly incredible that today, many wine tourists come from all over the world to visit Planeta and Sicily. Wine is an irreplaceable gift that allows us to compete and compare ourselves with the entire world."

These words reflect Planeta's philosophy that wine is more than just a drink; it delivers the culture, history, and passion of a land to the world.

Also operates a wine resort hotel

Today, Planeta owns a total of 400 hectares of vineyards and 7 wineries across 5 areas of Sicily. The company is revered and celebrated both domestically and internationally as a producer that changed the destiny of Sicilian wine. Beyond winemaking, Planeta offers a variety of "Sicilian experiences" to the world, including the production of high-quality DOP olive oil and boutique hotels adjacent to their wineries that are a delight for gourmands.

Planeta also operates the wine resort hotel La Foresteria. In a word, it is a "paradise that satisfies all five senses."

You wake to the chirping of birds, open the window to vineyards stretching before you, a blue sky, and the blue sea beyond. A day begins, bathed in exquisite breakfast and sunlight. Enjoy aperitifs by the pool or fine wine and gourmet food while gazing at the Mediterranean Sea. At this resort, you can forget your daily routine and truly relax.

Through winery tours, cooking classes, and food pairing experiences with local cuisine, they offer guests from around the world "Sicilian experiences" that allow them to feel the culture, nature, and daily life of the region.