Sicily wine region is the most southernmost in Italy and the largest island in the Mediterranean. To compliment its size, it boasts a wonderful and diverse array of native varieties, including one of the country’s unsung heroes, Nerello Mascalese, which is often compared to the elegance of Burgundian red wine. It is however Nero d’Avola that is most widely planted, which is quite the opposite in style to the much softer and delicate Nerello. This classic Italian native is typically aggressive in tannins, with a rich flavour profile and punchy acidity. Other wines of note from the region include Sicilian Frappato – the Mediterranean’s answer to Beaujolais’s Gamay – and who can forget Marsala Wine, a popular dessert wine which is Italy’s equivalent to sherry.
