Porta Marina Awarded Two Glasses by Wine Spectator: Excellence in Wine Curation Confirmed in the Heart of Ortigia
Located in the historic heart of Ortigia, Porta Marina has once again been honored with the prestigious Wine Spectator Restaurant Award 2025, earning two glasses in the Best of Award of Excellence category. This international recognition is granted to a select number of restaurants across more than 75 countries for their outstanding and consistent wine programs.
Since 1981, the Wine Spectator Restaurant Award has been the only global program entirely dedicated to excellence in wine service within the restaurant industry. The award is divided into three levels: Award of Excellence, Best of Award of Excellence, and Grand Award. Porta Marina has reconfirmed its place in the second tier, which highlights wine lists that offer both breadth and depth, with high-quality selections from multiple wine-growing regions.
A Wine Cellar That Tells Sicily’s Story with a Sustainable Vision
Founded in 2000 by chef Salvo Di Mauro, the restaurant stands out for a wine list built around sustainability, local identity, and environmental awareness. Curated by sommelier Martina Di Mauro, the collection includes over 560 labels, with a special focus on small producers from the Val di Noto and wineries committed to environmentally responsible practices.
Cutting-edge technologies such as Enomatic and Coravin ensure ideal preservation of bottles and allow guests to enjoy even the most exclusive wines by the glass, enhancing the overall tasting experience.
“Each wine is the result of careful research and selection,” explains Martina Di Mauro. “We prioritize producers who tell the story of our land through native grape varieties and sustainable methods. Our goal is to pair each dish with a wine that shares a story—a land, a conscious choice—helping guests discover Sicilian wine excellence, while also offering a curated selection of national and international labels.”
Tradition Meets Creativity: The Culinary Vision of Porta Marina
In the kitchen, chefs Salvo and Giancarlo Di Mauro—father and son—craft a menu that blends Sicilian tradition with thoughtful innovation. “Our philosophy is rooted in local, seasonal ingredients,” they explain. “We believe in a cuisine that naturally complements the wine. Every dish is designed to be in harmony with what’s in the glass, creating an experience that is authentic and deeply connected to our cultural identity.”
Un luogo simbolo dell’ospitalità siciliana
All’interno di un affascinante dammuso del XV secolo, recentemente restaurato e con 50 coperti, Porta Marina si conferma una delle realtà più rappresentative della ristorazione d’autore in Sicilia. Un progetto familiare in costante evoluzione, dove ogni dettaglio – dall’accoglienza al servizio, dalla cucina alla carta dei vini – esprime un’idea precisa di eccellenza.
Il riconoscimento del Wine Spectator 2025 non celebra soltanto la qualità tecnica della cantina, ma premia una visione: quella di un ristorante che ha scelto di raccontare la Sicilia attraverso un percorso enogastronomico consapevole, etico e profondamente legato al territorio.
