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Nero d'Avola (Italy)

Nero d'Avola (Black of Avola) is the most important red grape in Sicily.

Nero d'Avola Flavors

Black Currant. Blackberry. Black Cherry. Black Plum. Orange Zest. Dried Fruit. Raisin. Fig. Carob. Oak. Tobacco. Chili Pepper. Licorice.

Black Currant
Black
Currant
Plum
Blackberry
Black Cherry
Black
Cherry
Black Plum
Black
Plum
Dried Fruit
Dried Fruit
Raisins
Raisins
Fig
Fig
Volcanic
Volcanic

Tertiary Flavors from Aging

Some taste a smooky, dusty flavor from Etna volcano dust.

Oak
Oak
Tobacco
Tobacco
Chili
Chili
Licorice
Licorice

Nero d'Avola Profile

BODY:Full
TANNINS:Medium - High
FRUIT:Medium Plus
ACIDITY:High
ALCOHOL:13-15% ABV
Temperature Serving temperature:
16-17°C (61-63°F)

Nero d'Avola Food Pairing

Nero d'Avola pairs well Rich Meat, Sicilian and Mediterranean Cuisine.

Antipasti
Antipasti
Soup
Oxtail Soup
Ham
Ham
Hamburger
Bacon Burger
Chicken
Chicken
Turkey
Turkey
Duck
Duck
Rabbit
Rabbit
Pork
Pork
Wild Boar
Wild Boar
Veal
Veal
Deer
Deer

Excellent Pairings

Antipasti. Cold Cut. Salami.
Hamburger. Bacon Burger.
Ossobuco (Veal Shanks).
Rich Meat. Stews. Oxtail Soup.
Venison Stew. Wild Boar Stew.
Roasted or Grilled BBQ.
Chicken. Duck. Pork. Rabbit.

Sicilian Specialities

Caponata (Cooked Vegetable Salad).
Mozzarella Arancini (Stuffed Rice Balls).
Pistachio-Crusted Veal Chops.
Farsumagru (Veal-Roll with Bacon, Cheese, and Eggs).

The Ideal Glass for Nero d'Avola

The Bordeaux Glass was designed for enjoying fuller-bodied, tannic red wines. They are taller than other red wine glasses, and has a slimmer bowl.

The tall size allows the bouquet of the wine to develop, smooth out rough edges, play down tannins, and allow the wine to achieve balance.

The slimmer bowl directs the wine to the back of your mouth for a maximum taste.

If You Like Nero d'Avola

You Might Also Like:

Barolo (Italy)
Cabernet Sauvignon (France)
Dão DOC (Portugal)
Languedoc (France)
Lebanese Red (Lebanon)
Malbec (Argentina)
Nero d'Avola (Italy)
Petite Sirah (USA)
Pinotage (South Africa)
Rioja Reserva (Spain)
Shiraz (Australia)
Super Tuscan (Italy)
Syrah (France)
Touriga Nacional (Portugal)

Wine Region Sicilia (Sicily)

Etna and Catania

Etna with the city of Catania in the foreground

Black Grapes

White Grapes

Cabernet Sauvignon

35% Cataratto
15% Nero d'Avola

Sauvignon

13% Chardonnay


Red Wines

White Wines

Red Wine

Cerasuolo
Etna Rosso
Frappato
Nerello Mascalese
Nero d'Avola
Perricone

White Wine

Carricante
Cataratto
Etna Bianco
Fiano
Grillo
Inzolia
Malvasia Secco
Sicilia Bianco
Zibibbo


Rosè Wines

Dessert Wines

Rosè

Cerasuolo di Vittoria
Nero d'Avola Rosato

Sparkling Wine

Marsala

Soil

Soil

Volcanic mountains, volcanic hills and dark volcanic soil is covering most of Sicily, but is most significant around the Volcano Mount Etna.

Climate

Soil

Sicily is excellent for high-quality winemaking. With Mediterranean influences as well as lots of sunshine, the overall climate is warm and dry.

But, the island has mountains, and the benefit of altitude helps to moderate heat, preserve acidity, and even out ripening.

Winds from the oceans protect grapes from frost and mildew, and the harvest is one of the longest in Italy (90 days).

Sicilia has 1 DOCG and 23 DOC regions:

Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG

Alcamo DOC
Contea di Sclafani
Contessa Entellina DOC
Delia Nivolelli DOC
Eloro DOC
Erice DOC
Etna DOC
Faro DOC
Malvasia delle Lipari DOC
Mamertino di Milazzo
Marsala DOC
Menfi DOC
Monreale DOC
Noto DOC
Pantelleria DOC
Riesi DOC
Salaparuta DOC
Sambuca di Sicilia DOC
Santa Margherita di Belice DOC
Sciacca DOC
Sicilia DOC
Siracusa DOC
Vittoria DOC


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