Cantine Birgi Trisole Nerello Mascalese 2024, Sicilia DOC

Trisole Nerello Mascalese is made by Cantine Birgi, a growers’ cooperative founded in 1960 near Marsala, in western Sicily. Nerello Mascalese is a native Sicilian red grape best known on the slopes of Etna. Here it is grown in the Marsala area, with its warm, dry island climate and cooling winds, and bottled as a 100% varietal under the Sicilia DOC. The grapes are harvested by hand, and the wine is fermented in stainless steel to preserve its fresh fruit, with a short period on its lees adding depth and balance. It sees no barrique.

In the glass it is a bright ruby red. The nose shows cherry, raspberry and wild berries, with violet, earthy notes and subtle spice. The palate is medium-bodied, with smooth tannins and vibrant acidity, flavours of red fruit, herbs and earthy minerality, and a fresh, lingering finish with a hint of smoke.

Serve at 16–18°C, or a little cooler on a warm day. It pairs well with grilled meats and sausages, Italian cold cuts, flavourful pasta dishes and aged cheeses. Enjoy it young, over the next two to three years, while its fruit is fresh and lively.

Cantine Birgi (Cantina Sociale Birgi) was founded in 1960 by ten local growers at Contrada Birgi Nivaloro, near Marsala in the province of Trapani, on the western tip of Sicily. The cooperative draws on a winemaking tradition shaped by the many peoples who settled this coast, from the Phoenicians and Elymians to the Arabs and Normans. It focuses above all on Sicily’s native grapes, such as Grillo, Catarratto, Nero d’Avola and Zibibbo, alongside a few international varieties. Grapes are still harvested by hand into small crates to protect them on the way to the cellar, and the winery works sustainably, with attention to water saving, renewable energy and biodiversity in the vineyards. Its ranges include the everyday Tre Venti wines and the Trisole collection.