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'''Nero d’Avola''' is a red [[grape variety]] indigenous to [[Sicily]], where it has long been considered the island’s most important native red cultivar.<ref>Robinson (ed.), ''The Oxford Companion to Wine'', 2015.</ref> Known for producing deeply coloured wines with marked fruit character and good structure, it has become a defining element of Sicilian [[viticulture]] and a key driver of the region’s international reputation.<ref>Johnson & Robinson, ''The World Atlas of Wine'', 2019.</ref>

== Etymology and Origins ==
The name ''Nero d’Avola'' translates as “black of Avola”, referring to the town of [[Avola]] in the south-east of Sicily, although the variety is cultivated across the island.<ref>Robinson, Harding & Vouillamoz, ''Wine Grapes'', 2012.</ref> Historical references suggest it was traditionally used in blends to add [[colour]] and [[body]] to lighter wines. [[Ampelography|Ampelographic]] studies confirm its long-established presence in Sicily, where it adapted to arid [[Mediterranean]] conditions.<ref>Robinson (ed.), ''The Oxford Companion to Wine'', 2015.</ref>

== Viticultural Characteristics ==
The variety thrives in hot, dry environments and shows particular resilience to drought and high solar radiation.<ref>Robinson, Harding & Vouillamoz, ''Wine Grapes'', 2012.</ref> It is typically trained low to the ground in [[bush-vine]] systems in traditional [[vineyards]], although modern plantings often employ trellising to improve [[canopy management]] and mechanisation. Nero d’Avola can produce generous yields, but quality is strongly linked to yield control, with lower yields producing more concentrated wines.<ref>Jackson, ''Wine Science'', 2020.</ref> Its late-ripening nature requires sufficient autumn warmth to reach full phenolic maturity, making coastal and inland zones with reliable sunshine particularly suitable.

== Regional Significance ==
Nero d’Avola is planted throughout [[Sicily]], from coastal plains to higher-altitude sites, where differences in [[soil]] and climate influence wine style.<ref>Johnson & Robinson, ''The World Atlas of Wine'', 2019.</ref> It plays a central role within [[DOC Sicilia]], the island-wide designation that has supported its international promotion.<ref>Consorzio di Tutela Vini DOC Sicilia, “Nero d’Avola”.</ref> In the south, wines are typically fuller and richer, while higher-elevation plantings yield fresher and more aromatic expressions. Historically, it was exported in bulk to northern [[Italy]] and beyond to strengthen lighter wines, though today the focus is on [[estate-bottled]] varietal wines.

== Wine Styles ==
Wines made from Nero d’Avola are generally deep in colour with aromas of [[dark fruit (aroma)|dark fruit]], such as [[plum (aroma)|plum]] and [[black cherry (aroma)|black cherry]], often accompanied by notes of [[spice (note)|spice]], [[liquorice (note)|liquorice]], and sometimes [[chocolate (note)|chocolate]].<ref>Robinson (ed.), ''The Oxford Companion to Wine'', 2015.</ref> On the palate, they range from soft and approachable examples intended for early drinking to more structured wines with firm tannins and balanced acidity capable of [[ageing]]. [[Oak maturation]] is frequently employed, with barrel-aged versions showing additional [[complexity]]. While varietal bottlings dominate, the grape is also used in blends, including with [[Syrah]] and other international [[varieties]], to add depth and character.<ref>Robinson, Harding & Vouillamoz, ''Wine Grapes'', 2012.</ref>

== Modern Reputation ==
From the late 20th century onwards, Nero d’Avola has been at the centre of Sicily’s drive to re-establish itself as a producer of high-quality wines.<ref>Johnson & Robinson, ''The World Atlas of Wine'', 2019.</ref> Improvements in [[vineyard management]], lower yields, and investment in modern winemaking have raised the grape’s profile considerably. Today, it is recognised both in Italy and abroad as a flagship of Sicilian viticulture. The Consorzio di Tutela Vini DOC Sicilia actively promotes its typicity and safeguards its reputation in export markets.<ref>Consorzio di Tutela Vini DOC Sicilia, “Nero d’Avola”.</ref> Its stylistic versatility and ability to reflect [[terroir]] continue to make it one of the most significant Mediterranean red grape varieties.

== See also ==
* [[Sicily]]  
* [[Italian wine]]  
* [[Grape variety]]  

== References ==
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[[Category:Grape varieties]]  
[[Category:Viticulture]]  
[[Category:Wine classification]]