Cusumano Nero d’Avola 75cl

Dark-fruit, crowd-pleasing, and unmistakably Sicilian, this Nero d’Avola is the kind of Italian red wine you open when you want flavour that shows up on time.

• Appearance: Deep ruby with purple edges, the kind of colour that hints you’re not here for a shy sip.
• Nose: Ripe black cherry, plum, a touch of dried oregano, and a faint cocoa note that keeps you coming back for another smell.
• Taste: Juicy dark fruit up front, then a little spice and earthy savouriness. Dry, with medium acidity that keeps it lively and medium tannins that give it that satisfying “red wine” grip.
• Body: Medium to full-bodied, so it feels generous in the glass without turning into a heavyweight.
• Finish: Long-ish and pleasantly warming, with dark fruit fading into spice and a subtle bitter chocolate edge.

Cusumano’s style is all about making Sicily feel approachable, not intimidating. Nero d’Avola can go big and brooding, but here it stays fresh and juicy, which is exactly why it works so well at a table. You get layered flavours, fruit, herbs, a little cocoa, without needing to overthink it.

If you’re building out your home wine rotation, this is a smart “default red.” It’s bold enough for richer dishes, but the acidity keeps it from feeling heavy, so you can pour it on a random Tuesday and still feel like you made a good decision.

It’s also a nice gateway into southern Italian reds. You get that sunny, ripe-fruit character Sicily does so well, plus the savoury twist that makes each sip feel a little different.

Fun Fact: Cusumano is a family-owned Sicilian winery founded by brothers Alberto and Diego Cusumano, and they focus on expressing different local growing areas across the island, not just one “house style.”