Donnafugata Sherazade 2023

Nero d'Avola may be Sicily's signature red, but this take shows just how different the grape can be. Rather than the dense, sun-soaked style you might expect, it's all about brightness and lift - juicy cherry, raspberry and a flick of spice, carried on crisp acidity and supple tannins. Made without oak, it has a lightness of touch that feels almost Pinot-Noir-like, yet still with a distinctly Sicilian twist.

Great with tomato-based pasta, grilled vegetables or lighter meats, where its bright fruit and gentle spice cut through cleanly.

The Donnafugata label was launched in 1983 by long time Marsala makers, the Rallo family, and was aimed at championing Sicilian native grape varieties. Over time they’ve grown such that they have three estates in Sicily: a modern winery and 270 hectares at Contessa Entellina in the hills east of Marsala; 18 hectares in Vittoria at the southeastern point of the island; and 68 hectares on the island of Pantelleria. The name ‘Donnafugata’ means 'fleeing woman' and is a reference to Queen Maria Carolina, who escaped the court of Naples in the early 19th century with her husband, Ferdinand IV of Bourbon, when Napoleon's troops arrived. The range of wines they make encompass many different styles, but they all have one thing in common - to fuse Sicilian tradition with a modern approach.