Planeta dates its founding to 1694, and the family behind it counts 17 generations. The winery in its present form began in 1995, when the first cellar was set up at Ulmo and made its first harvest. The vineyards there are planted to Chardonnay, Grecanico and Nero d'Avola. Two years later came Santa Cecilia, which the winery calls its signature wine.
The estates spread across Sicily from there. In 1998 the family bought Buonivini in Noto, looking for great Nero d'Avola, and the vineyards there are planted to that grape. The Dispensa estate in Menfi has 160 hectares of vineyard.
Etna came later. Planeta made its first plantings on the volcano at the Sciara Nuova vineyard in 2008. The Feudo di Mezzo winery on Etna was inaugurated in 2012, with its first harvest on the mountain.
Not tasted yet
I haven't reviewed a wine from Planeta yet. They're on my Top 100 list, which is built from awards.