Nero d'Avola Ferla 2023 Cantina di Canicatti

The Nero d'Avola Ferla 2024 from Cantina di Canicattì is one of the most accessible and forthright Sicilian reds available, a wine of immediate pleasure, fruity and generous, that embodies with honesty the essence of Nero d'Avola on its home ground in central-southern Sicily. Its name, Ferla, refers to fennel, the wild Mediterranean plant with yellow flowers whose enveloping perfume blankets the hills around Canicattì and grows in abundance in the same earth as the Nero d'Avola vines. A wine of conviviality and Sicilian authenticity, produced by a cooperative founded in 1969 on the principles of the Sicilian peasant movement and which has since gathered more than 480 growers around a collective vision of quality.

Terroir and vineyards

Cantina di Canicattì sits at the edge of the town of Canicattì, in the province of Agrigento, not far from the legendary Valley of the Temples, one of the world's most impressive archaeological sites and a reminder of the historical depth of a territory inhabited and cultivated since ancient Greek times. The cooperative's vineyards stretch across a vast territory in the province of Agrigento, with extensions into the provinces of Palermo and Caltanissetta, a total area that encompasses microclimates and soil compositions of great diversity. The Ferla cuvée comes from Nero d'Avola vines planted on the argilo-sandy soils characteristic of central-southern Sicily, poor land that drains well and suffers from chronic water scarcity, forcing the vines to sink deep into the rock to find sustenance. This permanent water stress is precisely the source of the aromatic quality and concentration of Nero d'Avola from Canicattì, naturally concentrated grapes, healthy and of incomparable aromatic expression. The climate is Mediterranean, hot and arid, with strong thermal variation between day and night that allows Nero d'Avola to reach full maturity while preserving natural acidity and aromatic freshness. Viticulture is conducted in reasoned agriculture, with hand harvesting and careful selection of grapes. Vinification is traditional and precise: fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats, ageing for 6 months in stainless steel to preserve the purity and freshness of the fruit, followed by a month in bottle before release.

Tasting profile

The colour is a deep and brilliant ruby red with intense violet reflections, showing the good colour density characteristic of Nero d'Avola. The nose is generous and expressive, displaying the typical aromas of the variety: red plum, sour cherry and ripe red fruits dominate with abundance, accompanied by notes of Mediterranean herbs, thyme and rosemary, and a touch of lightly smoked black pepper that is the most recognisable aromatic signature of Sicilian Nero d'Avola. On the palate, the wine is supple, round and highly drinkable: the texture is warm and fruity, the tannins are round and pleasant, well-integrated, and the fresh acidity is sufficient to bring balance and dynamism to a generous body. The finish is easy, fruity and delicate, with that return of Mediterranean herbs and gentle pepper that marks the terroir. A red focused on fruit, fresh, supple and generous, a fine introduction to Sicilian wine at an accessible price.

The cooperative

CVA Canicattì was born in 1969 from the Sicilian peasant movement, when 480 growers from the province of Agrigento decided to unite to defend the quality of their vines and promote the island's indigenous varieties. For over fifty years, the cooperative has invested in its vineyards and winery with the constant ambition of showcasing Sicilian endemic varieties, Nero d'Avola, Grillo, Catarratto, and making the world aware of the richness and diversity of the terroirs of this extreme Sicily where soil and climate conditions vary profoundly over just a few kilometres. This diversity is a unique resource, carefully preserved and valued by the cooperative's growers.

Food pairings

This Nero d'Avola Ferla will pair beautifully with pasta al ragù, topped pizza, characterful Italian charcuterie, salami, coppa, bresaola, grilled sausage with herbs, aubergines à la parmigiana or a board of hard or blue cheeses. Its natural suppleness and drinkability make it an ideal wine for aperitivo, everyday meals and lively gatherings. Served between 14 and 16°C, it will reveal all the fruity generosity and Mediterranean character of a Sicilian Nero d'Avola in its most sincere form.