Nero d'Avola

Sicily's main red; sun-baked plum and licorice.

Nero d'Avola is Sicily's signature red grape, named for the small town of Avola in the southeast. Hot, dry conditions yield fully ripe, dark, plummy reds with notes of licorice and dried herbs and modest acidity. The grape has historically been used both as a varietal wine and as a Sicilian blender; modern boutique production has moved it firmly into serious territory, with cooler-site bottlings from higher-elevation vineyards showing more elegance and freshness than the traditional warm-coastal style.