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Nero d'avola Wine Variety

From Sicily to Australia this is a
seriously stylish red wine variety

Vinodiversity thinks that this could become the premium red wine variety in Australia.

A few descriptors of Nero d'Avola

Nero d'Avola is a red wine variety from Sicily. It makes up most of that island's red wine vineyard.

The Nero in the name obviously refers to the colour of the grapes. d'Avola refers to the town and region of Avola in the south-eastern corner of Sicily where this variety produces some fine wines.

Although Nero d'Avola has an alternative name of Calabrese suggesting its origin on the neighbouring mainland region of Italy it is doubtful if the variety was ever grown there. The issue of Nero's origins is discussed at length in Jancis Robinson's 2012 publication Wine Grapes.

Nero d'avola In Australia

Nero d'Avola thrives in the Riverland. Photo from Bassham Wines

This variety is one of several from Southern Italy that are of interest to winemakers in warm to hot conditions. As more grape growers and winemakers become concerned about climate change they are increasingly looking for wine varieties from Southern Italian Regions rather than the cooler North.

Nero d'Avola is favoured in warmer climates for two reasons. Firstly as a late ripening variety the critical last month of maturation is more likely to be after the hottest part of summer. Steady ripening in this last few weeks of the growing season is a major factor in wine quality.

Secondly the variety seems to be less susceptible to berry damage during heat waves.

I believe this variety has a huge future in Australia. It is suitable for most of the warmer areas of this country and will quickly break out from it's current habitats of mainly McLaren Vale and Riverland in South Australia. It has great potential in areas like Bendigo, Heathcote, The Pyrenees and Rutherglen in Victoria, as well as most of the inland regions of New South Wales.

A possible limitation of the variety is its susceptibility to fungal diseases so that it may not do well in regions where there is rain at harvest time.

prize winning Nero's

At the 2019 Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show (AAVWS) 30 Neros were judged. two Gold medals, five Slivers and eleven Bronze medals were awarded.

The Gold medal winners were Coriole 2109 Nero from McLaren Vale and and Dalfarras 2018 Nero d'Avola.

Alpha Box and Dice McLaren Vale
Bailey's of Glenrowan Glenrowan
Bassham Riverland
Beach Road McLaren Vale
Bellwether Coonawarra
Berg Herring McLaren Vale
Bird in Hand Adelaide Hills
Blaxland Wine Group Barossa Valley
Brash Higgins McLaren Vale
Brown Brothers King Valley
Brown Brothers King Valley
Bunyip Hollow North East Victoria
By Jingo Adelaide Hills
Calabria Family Wines Riverina
Chalmers Heathcote
Chrismont King Valley
Collins and Co Wines Barossa Valley
Coriole McLaren Vale
Delinquente Wine Riverland
Dell'uva Wines Barossa Valley
Eldorado Road North East Victoria
Five Geese Hillgrove Wines McLaren Vale
Five O’Clock Somewhere McLaren Vale
Fox Creek Wines McLaren Vale
Fox Gordon Barossa Valley
Golden Grove Estate Granite Belt
Hither and Yon McLaren Vale
Hugh Hamilton McLaren Vale
Kay Bros Amery McLaren Vale
Kirrihill Estates Clare Valley
La Bise Adelaide Hills
La Fattoria Perth Hills
Lino Ramble McLaren Vale
Matriarch and Rogue Clare Valley
McCarthy's Orchard McLaren Vale
McWilliams Riverina
Monterra Wines McLaren Vale
Montevecchio Heathcote
Mount Eyre Vineyards Hunter Valley
Mount Horrocks Clare Valley
Musk Lane Macedon Ranges
Nomads Garden Alpine Valleys
Parish Hill Wines Adelaide Hills
Pertaringa McLaren Vale
Politini King Valley
Precious Little Wines Adelaide Hills
Pyren Vineyard Pyrenees
Ricca Terra Riverland
Rouleur McLaren Vale
Sabella Wines McLaren Vale
Salena Estate Riverland
SAMU Riverland
Samuels Gorge McLaren Vale
Santolin Yarra Valley
SC Pannell McLaren Vale
Scott and La Prova Adelaide Hills
Seppletsfield Barossa Valley
Sherrah McLaren Vale
Smidge Wines Langhorne Creek
Spider Bill Wines Adelaide hills
Springton Hills Eden Valley
Susuro Adelaide Hills
Taminick Cellars Glenrowan
Taylors Clare Valley
Tellurian Heathcote
Thick as Thieves Yarra Valley
Trentham Estate Murray Darling
Unico Zelo Adelaide Hills
Vigna Bottin McLaren Vale
Zerella (la Gita) McLaren Vale

Updated 14 Nov 2019

More Italian red wine varieties used in Australia

One of the best books about Italian wine grape varieties is Ian d'Agata's Native Wine Grapes of Italy

Nero d'avola and food

These wines are often soft and drinkable making them versatile for when and with what you serve them.

The richness and spiciness of Nero d'Avola can be used to accompany some of the sweet and sour Sicilian Dishes such as Caponata a Sicilian dish consisting of a cooked vegetable salad made from chopped fried eggplant, green olives, capers and celery seasoned with sweetened vinegar.

Pasta Norma, made with eggplants is another typical Sicilian dish to pair with Nero.

You will also find that they go well with slightly spicy cuisine such as Moroccan tagines.

Caponata. Source By Massimoweb - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16891038

More Italian red wine varieties used in Australia

One of the best books about Italian wine grape varieties is Ian d'Agata's Native Wine Grapes of Italy

Learn More about Grape Varieties

De Long's Wine Grape Varietal Table

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Wine Grapes by Jancis Robinson, Julia Harding and José Vouillamoz

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