Nero d'Avola

Nero d'Avola (Italian pronunciation: [ˈneːro ˈdaːvola]; 'Black of Avola' in Italian) is "the most important red wine grape in Sicily"[1] and is one of Italy's most important indigenous varieties. It is named after Avola in the far south of Sicily, and its wines are compared to New World Shirazes, with sweet tannins and plum or peppery flavours. It also contributes to Marsala Rubino blends.[2][3][4]

Nero d'Avola
Grape (Vitis)
SpeciesVitis vinifera
Also calledCalabrese
Origin Italy
Notable regionsSicily
VIVC number1986

History

"The Black Grape of Avola" appears to have been selected by growers near Avola (a small town in south east Sicily) several hundred years ago. Initially, it was confined to the southern tip of the island but more recently has spread throughout the island.

Viticulture
Nero d'Avola wine

The vine likes hot and relatively dry climates. The districts around Noto (above all Buonivini) and Pachino in the south of the province of Siracusa are reputed for the quality of their Nero d'Avola wines. The first American producer of Nero d'Avola is Chiarito Vineyards in Ukiah, California (Mendocino County). Nero d'Avola is also cultivated in Australia, particularly in the hot Riverland and Sunraysia areas where winemakers are producing light, juicy, fragrant wines (see Amato Vino, Chalmers Wines). The variety is also found in Malta, Turkey and recently in South Africa too.

Sensory properties

Colour: cherry or ruby red. Perfume: typically winy, fruity, strongly reminiscent of blackberries. Flavour: dry, slightly acidic, rounded, warm and full-bodied. Serving temperature: ambient.

References
  1. winecountry.it Sicily Grape Varieties Archived 2006-10-06 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Robinson, Jancis Vines, Grapes & Wines Mitchell Beazley 1986 ISBN 1-85732-999-6
  3. winepros.com.au. Oxford Companion to Wine. "Nero d'Avola". Archived from the original on August 9, 2008.
  4. http://www.nerodavola.com Official web site. "Nero d'Avola".
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