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. This issue 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 grapegrowers 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 Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show (AAVWS) in 2017 24 Neros were judged. One Gold medal, two Slvers and 15 Bronze medals were awarded. Hither and Yon's 2017 Nero d'Avola was awarded the trophy for Best Wine in the Show.

It is Interesting that there is now a trophy for the best Nero d'Avola in the Show.

Bailey's of Glenrowan Glenrowan
Bassham Riverland
Beach Road McLaren Vale
Bellwether Coonawarra
Bird in Hand Adelaide Hills
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
Collins and Co Wines Barossa Valley
Coriole McLaren Vale
Delinquente Wine Riverland
Eldorado Road North East Victoria
Fox Gordon Barossa Valley
Golden Grove Estate Granite Belt
Hither and Yon McLaren Vale
Hugh Hamilton McLaren Vale
Kay Bros Amery McLaren Vale
Lino Ramble McLaren Vale
McCarthy's Orchard McLaren Vale
Montevecchio Heathcote
Mount Eyre Vineyards Hunter Valley
Mount Horrocks Clare Valley
Parish Hill Wines Adelaide Hills
Pertaringa McLaren Vale
Politini King Valley
Pyren Vineyard Pyrenees
Samuels Gorge McLaren Vale
Rouleur McLaren Vale
Salena Estate Riverland
Samuels Gorge McLaren Vale
Scott and La Prova Adelaide Hills
Sherrah McLaren Vale
Springton Hills Eden Valley
Taminick Cellars Glenrowan
Taylors Clare Valley
Tellurian Heathcote
Trentham Estate Murray Darling
Vigna Bottin McLaren Vale

Last Update 20 April 2018

More Italian red wine varieties used in Australia

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

Learn More about Grape varieties

De Long's Wine Grape Varietal Table

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