Nero d'Avola

If you love full-bodied dry reds like Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah then Nero d’Avola (“nair-oh davo-la”) is your buddy. This lesser known Sicilian grape variety has finally become known as a “serious” wine.

Its resurrection has a few producers to thank (among them are Planeta, COS, Curto and Donnafugata) who have made several jaw-dropping single varietal Nero d’Avola wines since the late 1990’s. What is awesome about this grape is that even though the wines get high ratings, most can be purchased for under $20.