Nero d'Avola (; ) is "the most important red wine
grape
A grape is a fruit, botanically a berry, of the deciduous woody vines of the flowering plant genus ''Vitis''. Grapes are a non- climacteric type of fruit, generally occurring in clusters.
The cultivation of grapes began approximately 8,0 ...
in
Sicily
Sicily (Italian language, Italian and ), officially the Sicilian Region (), is an island in the central Mediterranean Sea, south of the Italian Peninsula in continental Europe and is one of the 20 regions of Italy, regions of Italy. With 4. ...
"
[winecountry.i]
Sicily Grape Varieties
and is one of Italy's most important indigenous varieties. It is named after
Avola
Avola (; /, becoming / if preceded by vowel; ) is a city and in the province of Syracuse, Sicily (southern Italy).
History
The foundation of the city in an area previously inhabited by the Sicani and invaded by the Sicels in the 13th-12th ...
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.
[Robinson, Jancis ''Vines, Grapes & Wines'' Mitchell Beazley 1986 .][winepros.com.au. ][http://www.nerodavola.com ]
History
"The Black Grape of Avola" appears to have been selected by growers near
Avola
Avola (; /, becoming / if preceded by vowel; ) is a city and in the province of Syracuse, Sicily (southern Italy).
History
The foundation of the city in an area previously inhabited by the Sicani and invaded by the Sicels in the 13th-12th ...
(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.
Nero d'Avola is also known as Calabrese by Sicilians, "particularly older ones",
as well as by the Italian National Registry of Vine Varieties. "There has been speculation that ''Calabrese'' is an indication of
Calabrian origin, but it is widely accepted as an Italianization of the old dialect name Calavrisi ... which means "grape from Avola.""
Viticulture
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. 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
External links
Sicily Wine website{{wines
Red wine grape varieties
Wine grapes of Italy
Crops originating from Europe