2017 Pellegrino Cent'are Nero d'Avola DOC, Sicily

Pellegrino Cent’are Nero d’Avola DOC is a vibrant and characterful Sicilian red that captures the warmth, history and sun drenched intensity of western Sicily while remaining balanced and food friendly. The vineyards are located around Marsala, where Nero d’Avola thrives in sandy and limestone influenced soils under strong Mediterranean light, tempered by cooling sea breezes. These coastal conditions help retain freshness and aromatic clarity, allowing the variety’s dark fruit and spice to shine without becoming heavy.

Cantine Pellegrino is one of Sicily’s historic wine families, founded in 1880 and still family owned across multiple generations. While globally known for its Marsala, Pellegrino has played a crucial role in championing Sicily’s native varieties and regional identity. The Cent’are range reflects this focus on authenticity and place, with Nero d’Avola handled in a clean, modern but respectful style that highlights varietal character rather than overt winemaking influence. Careful vineyard selection and gentle extraction help preserve the grape’s natural richness and supple tannins.

In the glass the wine shows a deep ruby colour with purple hues. Aromas are immediately inviting, offering ripe black cherry, plum and blackberry layered with hints of liquorice, dried herbs and warm spice. The palate is medium to full bodied, smooth and generous, delivering dark fruit flavours supported by soft tannins and a savoury, gently warming finish. It is an excellent match for pasta with rich sauces, grilled meats, pizza, eggplant dishes and aged cheeses, and while enjoyable young, it also has the balance to evolve over five to eight years, gaining more earthy and savoury complexity.

Pellegrino Cent’are Nero d’Avola DOC is an authentic and approachable expression of Sicily’s flagship red variety, combining generosity, spice and Mediterranean character in a style that is both versatile and deeply regional.