2021 Gulfi Nerojbelo

There are few things that feel more summer than Sicily. The heat, the salty air, the sepia-toned glow—Sicily and August are cut from the same cloth. Sicilian reds largely have a rusticity to them that feels especially charming this time of year, even in fuller-bodied bottles like this one. 

This bottle is all Nero d’Avola, one of Sicily’s most important red grapes. Named for its dark color—nero is black in Italian—and the popular Middle Ages trading town of Avola on Sicily’s southeast coast, Nero was known as a blending grape for centuries. It was often added to lesser wines produced on the mainland before they left through Avola for far-off destinations. Sometime in the 21st century, Nero started being bottled varietally—that is, all its own with no other grapes—and it has taken off.

Nero can be found in two styles: medium-bodied with tension and vitality or full-bodied with power and persistence. Both are fabulous expressions, and this bottle from Gulfi expertly hits the bullseye between. It shows off the compelling aromatics that can come with a lighter-style Nero, but still has a serious presence on the palate. Impact lined with freshness. Farmed organically in the sunny hills of the Hyblaean Mountains, this is an eternal Italian food wine. Pizza, pasta, or whatever tomatoey-carby dish you like best