Nero d'Avola (Italy)
Nero d'Avola (Black of Avola) is the most important red grape in Sicily.
Typical Flavors
 Black Currant |
 Blackberry |
 Black Cherry |
 Black Plum |
 Dried Fruit |
 Raisins |
 Fig |
 Volcanic |
Oak Added Flavors:
 Oak |
 Tobacco |
 Chili |
 Licorice |
Black Currant. Blackberry. Black Cherry. Black Plum.
Orange Zest. Dried Fruit. Raisin. Fig. Carob.
Oak. Tobacco. Chili Pepper. Licorice.
Some taste a smooky, dusty flavor from Etna volcano dust.
Profile
| BODY | Full | ||
| TANNINS | Medium - High | ||
| FRUIT | Medium Plus | ||
| ACIDITY | High | ||
| |||
Food Pairing
 Antipasti |
 Oxtail Soup |
 Ham |
 Bacon Burger |
 Chicken |
 Turkey |
 Duck |
 Rabbit |
 Pork |
 Wild Boar |
 Veal |
 Deer |
Nero d'Avola pairs well Rich Meat, Sicilian and Mediterranean Cuisine.
Pairing Suggestions
Excellent Pairing:
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.
Cheese:
Ragusano. Pecorino. Comté. Fourme d'Ambert. Appenzeller.
Sicilian Specialities:
Caponata (Cooked Vegetable Salad).
Mozzarella Arancini (Stuffed Rice Balls).
Pistachio-Crusted Veal Chops.
Farsumagru (Veal-Roll with Bacon, Cheese, and Eggs).
If You Like Nero d'Avola
You Might Also Like:
The Ideal Glass
The Bordeaux glass is perfect for medium to full bodied red wines.
It is taller than other red wine glasses, and has a slimmer bowl.
The large size of the glass allows the fruit bouquet to develop. It smooths out rough edges, plays down tannins, and allows the wines to achieve balance.
The slimmer bowl sends the wine directly to the back of the mouth for maximum taste.
About
Nero d'Avola is a full bodied red wine with the same boldness as Syrah (Shiraz) and Cabernet Sauvignon.
It is named after the city of Avola, but produced in many districts of Sicilia.
Younger wines show raspberry and juicy, red-fruit flavors, while more complex examples offer plum, dark fruit and chocolate flavors.
When blended, the higher percentage of Nero d’Avola, the stronger and richer the wine will be.
Nero d'Avola is also considered one of the top Rosé.
Sicilia (Sicily)
Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean. The capital is Palermo.
It is known for old ruins, sandy beaches, seafood, and the Marsala dessert wine.
Sicily is also well respected for the dry wines of Etna and Vittoria.
Red Wines:
Cerasuolo
Etna Rosso
Frappato
Nerello Mascalese
Nero d'Avola
White Wines:
Carricante
Cataratto
Etna Bianco
Fiano
Grillo
Inzolia
Malvasia Secco
Sicilia Bianco
Rosé Wines:
Cerasuolo di Vittoria
Nero d'Avola Rosato
Dessert Wines:
Primary Grapes:
Catarratto (35%)
Nero d’Avola (15%)