This affordable Italian red is fun, flirty, and tastes like shiraz

Italy is the world’s number one wine producer by volume. It is also home to more native wine grape varieties than any other nation, with over 350 in commercial production. Yet, Italy’s bounty of wine grapes remains largely unfamiliar to American wine drinkers, and none get the A-list status of French grapes like cabernet sauvignon or chardonnay.

This is due to a quirk of history; French monasteries began systematically improving French wines and vines in the 11th century, leading them to focus on a smaller number of grapes of high-quality potential. Meanwhile in Italy, vintners remained more focused on quantity than quality until well into the 20th century, so every region had dozens of its own local grapes.

With so many varieties planted and often not even named on wine labels, even the most interesting of Italy’s wine grapes has had a hard time earning a following outside their native regions. Take the nero d’Avola grape, for instance. The black grape of Avola has been cultivated for centuries, but only in southern Sicily. Only recently has the charm of its shiraz-like wines that feature overtly fruity flavors of blackberries and black pepper led to a significant expansion of its vineyard area, but most is still grown in Sicily.

Affordable versions like this one are fun and flirty, with a snap and tang that lends itself nicely to seafood and vegetables, while more ambitious cuvées see longer oak aging that tilts their paring strengths towards cheeses and meat dishes.

PLCB Item #9338

Sale price through Feb. 28 — regularly $10.

Also available at:

Joe Canal’s in Marlton — $8.99

https://www.marltonjoecanals.com/

Wine Warehouse locations in Clementon, Voorhees, and Mantua, — $9.29

https://blackwood.winewarehousenj.com/

https://voorhees.winewarehousenj.com/

https://mantua.winewarehousenj.com/