IT
EN
FR
DE
NL
Kantico Restaurant
Wine leads the journey. The cuisine interprets it.
Kantico is the most visionary space at Monaci delle Terre Nere Wine Resort. Carved into the eighteenth-century cistern beneath the estate’s manor villa, the restaurant invites guests on a journey into the depths, an immersive descent through volcanic stone.
Here, a vertical cellar winds down almost 10 metres across three levels, connected by a dramatic spiral of glass and iron, of light and shadow. The volcanic rock cradles more than 5,000 labels, held in an atmosphere that is intimate, rare, and deeply connected to the force of Etna.
At Kantico, every journey begins with the wine. It is from the choice of label that Michelin-starred Chef Onofrio Pagnotto designs each dish, drawing out its structure and character. Emotion guides the choice of bottle; the chef’s hand makes each guest’s experience unrepeatable.
Opening Hours
Information & Contacts
- Private Dinner, Wine Tastings, Wine Selection
- Location: Inside the Historic Cistern of the House
- Dress code: Smart Elegant
Philosophy
Born from the vision of Federica and Guido, guardians of Etna and the souls behind Monaci delle Terre Nere, Kantico is the deepest expression of the rural micro-cosmos that lives within the estate. Across this 25-hectare ecosystem, where vineyards, olive groves, citrus orchards, vegetable gardens and a unique biodiversity coexist in natural balance, sustainability is not a formal choice but a daily practice.
Organic farming, the safeguarding of Slow Food Presidia, and a visceral love for this volcanic land define the identity of Kantico’s cuisine, rooted in seasonality and in the purity of ingredients grown directly on the estate.
In this vision, respect for the land and its fruits walks hand in hand with the wine, which sets the rhythm of the experience. Every dish takes shape to elevate the bottle chosen by the guest. The wine’s acidity, minerality and structure suggest the kitchen’s pairings, giving rise to a continuous, essential and profound dialogue between the volcanic earth and the table.
Even the cellar selection reflects the philosophy of Monaci delle Terre Nere: small producers, territorial identity, and artisan care.
Chef Onofrio Pagnotto
It was on the Aeolian Islands that he learned to read the volcanic landscape as an ingredient in itself. There his eye and his philosophy of a cuisine that listens, rather than imposes, took shape.
Today he leads the culinary offering of Monaci delle Terre Nere and Kantico. Here his work becomes narrative, a distillation of the land, marked by a personal, free, cultured and contemporary touch. His dishes are the culmination of a journey that begins long before service, with the choice of seed, the care of the plant, respect for the land’s own time. At Kantico, Chef Pagnotto’s creations enter into dialogue with the wines curated by Guido Coffa, telling, glass after glass, every nuance of Etna.
Experience
The experience at Kantico is a tailored ritual that overturns every convention. The journey doesn’t begin with the menu, but with the descent into the vertical cellar. Amid walls of volcanic stone and more than 5,000 labels safeguarding the history of Etna, small winegrowers and international rarities alike, you’ll be immersed in a guided visit through the philosophy and oenological treasures of Monaci delle Terre Nere, culminating in the choice of your bottle or the pairing journey with which to begin the evening. Descending through the cistern’s three glazed, walkable levels, a true jewel of Sicilian rural history inspired by the principles of bio-architecture, you’ll discover a structure that is as original as it is unique.
It’s your choice that charts the course: Chef Onofrio Pagnotto welcomes the wines you’ve selected and builds around them a personalised five-course menu inspired by the estate’s biodiversity, heirloom legumes, organic vegetables and proteins, produce raised and grown directly at Monaci delle Terre Nere. At the base of the cistern, in the restaurant’s intimate, dreamlike atmosphere, among artworks and unique design pieces, you’ll savour Sicily from an unconventional perspective, one that is profoundly your own. Your Kantico journey continues beyond the table, through the spaces of Bar Convivium, curated by bar manager Paolo Sanna, before unwinding into the private atmosphere of the Spirits Room.
A continuous dialogue between land, wine and cuisine. An experience reserved for an adult audience, designed for anyone who wishes to live Etna in its most authentic expression, even without staying at the relais.
