Sicily has an excellent climate, geography, and terroir for high-quality winemaking. The Mediterranean and insular influences, along with abundant sunlight, make Sicily's overall climate warm and dry. However, the island is quite mountainous, and the benefit of altitude helps moderate the heat, preserve acidity, and promote ripening. The island's winds blow from the oceans, protecting the grapes from frost and mildew (hence the lack of need for chemicals to prevent diseases and the abundance of organic viticulture), and the harvest is one of the longest in the world, often lasting over 90 days.

Dark volcanic soil is predominant throughout the island, with volcanic mountains and hills covering most of Sicily, but it is most significant around Mount Etna in eastern Sicily and the surrounding active volcano.