Nerello Mascalese

Nerello Mascalese is a red grape variety recently rediscovered and now widely appreciated especially when grown in the Etna wine region where the volcanic terroir creates very different wines, but it also grown in other regions including in the Marsala area where it is used to produce Marsala Rubino.

The Nerello Mascalese is a late ripening grape and it is thought to originate from Sicily and considered a native grape variety, the “Nerello” in its name refers to the color of the berries, black in Italian. Recent DNA testing has suggested that Nerello Mascalese is likely to originate from Sangiovese with other analysis suggesting it to be an offspring of Carricante.