Grape · Sicily, Italy
Nero d'Avola
NEH-ro DAH-vo-lah
Sicily's dark cherry
The island's workhorse red: black cherry, Mediterranean herbs, and a range from juicy carafe wine to structured, age-worthy bottles.
- black cherry
- licorice
- Mediterranean herbs
- plum
- cocoa
Profile
Bodymedium
Acidmedium
Tanninmedium
Sugardry
In the hot south it can taste cooked and simple. From Vittoria's red sands, or blended in Cerasuolo di Vittoria with Frappato, it has lift. On Etna, Nerello Mascalese steals the prestige conversation, but Nero d'Avola remains the volume and the value.
Look for restraint: alcohol in check, herbs instead of jam. Those bottles are the island in a glass.
Capo nata, grilled swordfish with tomatoes, pasta alla Norma, and aged Ragusano.
At the table
Service
59–63 °F (15–17 °C).
