Nero d’ Avola

Taking its name from the town of Avola, in south east Sicily, Nero d’Avola is a very popular red grape variety and it is perhaps one of the most commonly planted grapes in Sicily, normally flowering early in the season and ripening by mid-September.

While initially being grown mainly in the south, Nero d'Avola is now planted all over the region, thriving in hot and dry climates, though still able to grow in cooler and damper conditions, the grape is currently being grown in Australia, California, Malta, Turkey and South Africa and produces a wine that is cherry or ruby red in colour and has a dry, slightly acidic flavour.

Nero d’Avola not only is vinified on its own, but is also often blended with other grapes, native and not, often with Syrah, and can produce great wines when properly grown. Nero d'Avola wines age well.

Nero d’Avola is grown all over Sicily but grapes grown in and around the town of Marsala can and are also used in the production of the Marsala Rubino, a fortified wine.