2017 Donnafugata Sedara Sicilia IGT Nero D'Avola 750 ml

Donnafugata is “one of Italy’s, not just Sicily’s, best wine estates,” according to Vinous, boasting  dozens of 95+ scores in the pages of Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, Vinous, and Decanter, and perennial status on the Tre Bicchieri award-winners list. Their 2017 Sedàra Sicilia is a standout red, and a fantastic deal from a producer who never seems to miss the mark.

Sedára is a generous and vibrant Nero d’Avola sourced from Donnafugata’s original Entellina estate—where they produce some of their most critically-acclaimed wines—with spicy flair injected by other local vineyard sites. It springs from the glass with aromas of bramble and raspberry, then struts onto the palate with red fruit and herbs. “Fresh and juicy, but with a luscious quality,” according to Vinous, it’s a lively weeknight companion.

Considered Sicily’s full-bodied competitor to Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, Nero d’Avola is a versatile native Sicilian grape variety. While many Nero d’Avola wines evoke the grape’s bold spice and black fruit, Donnafugata has completely unlocked its potential for producing fresh and ripe, yet full-bodied, wine. Rounded out with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah, the Sedára will be an instant favorite for lovers of Super Tuscans and herbal Bordeaux reds.

But this wine is pure Sicily: born of the island’s flagship grape and crafted by a regional icon,  it’s a standout that showcases Sicilian winemaking traditions while delivering effortless pleasure in the glass. With a light touch in the cellar—nine months in cement tanks and seven in bottle—Donnafugata allows the Nero d’Avola’s unique qualities to shine. It’s wines like these that make Sicily a must-know wine region. 

The Rallo family has been making Sicilian wine for more than 160 years, accumulating an unrivaled understanding of the island’s unique terroir and potential. Since Giacomo Rallo founded Donnafugata in 1983, the estate has been consistently, “At the forefront of innovation and the development of Sicilian wine,” according to Vinous. They’ve been a leader in sustainable winemaking as one of the first wineries to switch entirely to solar power. And they’ve shown a commitment to cultivating native biodiversity, further imbuing their wines with distinctiveness and complexity.