Cantine Ermes Vento di Mare Nero d’Avola 2024: Tasting Notes

WINE STYLE → Dark Berry & Spice

Cantine Ermes Vento di Mare Nero d’Avola 2024 is an organic Sicilian red with ripe black cherry, black plum, smoky chilli, cumin, pepper and a flicker of blood orange. It is generous and Mediterranean in style, but not heavy-handed, with soft round tannins, savoury spice and a lightly grippy finish. This is a very useful food red: bold enough for pasta, lamb, pizza and eggplant parmigiana, but smooth enough for an easy glass midweek.

Highlights

• Organic Sicilian Nero d’Avola
• Crafted by Cantine Ermes — Sicilian cooperative producer with a strong focus on organic viticulture
• Black cherry, ripe black plum, smoky chilli, cumin, blood orange and pepper
• Grown on clay-limestone soils rich in organic matter and iron
• Aged around 4 months in stainless steel with a brief passage in wood
• 13.5% ABV

Tasting Notes

Ripe black cherry and black plum lead the glass, layered with smoky chilli pepper, cumin, cracked pepper and a subtle blood orange lift. The palate is dry, generous and medium-to-full bodied, with sweet-fruited dark berries moving into savoury spice and a tart, skin-like edge. Tannins are soft and round at first, then lightly dusty and grippy through the finish, giving the wine balance and shape.

Winemaking

This Nero d’Avola is made to preserve fruit purity while adding enough savoury depth for food. The wine is aged for around four months in stainless steel, keeping the cherry, plum and spice notes bright. A brief passage in wood before bottling adds roundness and gentle structure without pushing the wine into a heavy oak style.

Vineyard & Vintage

Vento di Mare Nero d’Avola is grown in Sicily under the Sicilia DOC designation. The vines are Guyot trained and planted on medium-textured clay-limestone soils rich in organic matter and iron. Sicily’s warm Mediterranean climate gives Nero d’Avola its ripe black-fruit depth, while sea breezes and mineral soils help keep freshness, savoury spice and balance in the finished wine.

Why We Love It

This is the red-wine version of a generous Sicilian dinner: black fruit, spice, warmth and freshness all working together. It has enough body for richer food, but the tannins stay soft and the finish stays savoury. For anyone who loves Shiraz but wants something a little more Italian, sunlit and food-focused, Nero d’Avola is a gorgeous grape to explore.

Food Pairing

Cantine Ermes Vento di Mare Nero d’Avola 2024 is a natural match for tomato, herbs, grilled vegetables, slow-cooked meats, lamb, pizza, pasta and Mediterranean spice. Its dark fruit suits richer dishes, while the smoky pepper and dusty tannins work beautifully with char, oregano, eggplant and olive oil.

Try matching this wine with →

• Eggplant parmigiana with tomato, basil and melted cheese — Find a Recipe
• Lamb ragu with pappardelle and herbs — Find a Recipe
• Sicilian meatballs with tomato, garlic and oregano — Find a Recipe

Mood or occasion to match this wine…

For pasta nights, pizza with proper toppings, slow Sunday cooking or a cosy red that still has lift. Pour it with tomato-rich food, grilled vegetables or lamb, and it brings that relaxed Sicilian warmth to the table.

Cellaring

Drink now to 2028. This wine is made for bright fruit and early approachability, though Nero d’Avola’s natural colour, tannin and acidity give it a few years of short-term cellaring potential. Drink young for black cherry, plum and smoky spice.

Producer

Cantine Ermes is a Sicilian cooperative producer founded in 1998 in the Belìce Valley, an area deeply shaped by the 1968 earthquake. Today, the cooperative brings together a large community of growers across Sicily and other Italian regions, with Vento di Mare focused on organic wines shaped by sun, wind and sea influence. The name means “sea wind”, reflecting the breezes that help moderate vineyard temperatures and support healthier organic grape growing. Their Nero d’Avola captures classic Sicilian generosity: ripe dark fruit, savoury spice, soft tannins and a table-ready finish.

Related Wines To Try →

For other juicy, savoury and Mediterranean-leaning reds, try these:

• Preservative-free McLaren Vale Nero d’Avola with red berry fruit, earthy notes and gentle grip — Wild Folk Preservative Free Nero D’Avola
• Organic Spanish red with raspberry, cherry, tomato leaf and warm-earth savouriness — Amigo de la Tierra Garnacha Tempranillo
• Biodynamic Barossa Montepulciano with bright fruit, savoury length and Italianate structure — Tscharke The Master Montepulciano

FAQ

What does Cantine Ermes Vento di Mare Nero d’Avola 2024 taste like?

It tastes like ripe black cherry, black plum, smoky chilli, cumin, blood orange and pepper. The palate is dry, generous and medium-to-full bodied, with soft round tannins and a lightly dusty finish. It is fruit-driven, but the spice and savoury grip keep it nicely balanced.

Is Vento di Mare Nero d’Avola sweet or dry?

This is a dry red wine. The fruit is ripe and generous, with black cherry and plum richness, but the finish is savoury rather than sweet. Pepper, cumin and dusty tannins give it a food-friendly edge.

Is Nero d’Avola similar to Shiraz?

Yes, Nero d’Avola can appeal to Shiraz drinkers because it offers dark fruit, spice and generous body. It is usually a little more Italian in shape, with savoury tannins, bright acidity and a strong affinity with tomato-based food. This makes it an excellent choice when you want a bold red that still suits the dinner table.

How should I serve this wine?

Serve it at around 15–17°C in a medium-to-large red wine glass. A slight coolness keeps the black cherry, plum and spice bright. Avoid serving it too warm, as the fruit can become softer and the alcohol more obvious.

Should I decant Cantine Ermes Vento di Mare Nero d’Avola?

A full decant is not essential. Open it 15–20 minutes before serving, or pour into generous glasses and let it breathe naturally. If serving with richer food, a short splash decant can soften the tannins and bring the spice forward.

Does this wine contain preservatives or sulphites?

This wine contains sulphites. It is not a no-added-preservative wine. For wines made without added preservative sulphites, explore our No Added Preservative wine range.

Is Cantine Ermes Vento di Mare Nero d’Avola vegan friendly?

Vegan status is not confirmed for this wine, so it should not be marked vegan unless confirmed by the importer or producer. It is an organic Sicilian red focused on ripe fruit, spice and soft tannins. For customers who specifically require vegan wines, choose a wine clearly marked vegan suitable.

What food pairs best with this Nero d’Avola?

It is excellent with eggplant parmigiana, lamb ragu, pizza, Sicilian meatballs, lasagne, grilled sausages, roast capsicum and tomato-based pasta. The dark fruit suits richer dishes, while the smoky chilli and cumin notes work with herbs, garlic and char. For a vegetarian match, try eggplant parmigiana or mushroom and olive pizza.

Who will love this wine?

It will suit drinkers who enjoy generous reds with black fruit, spice and soft tannins. If you like Shiraz, Montepulciano, Tempranillo or warm-climate Grenache, this is a lovely Sicilian alternative. It is especially good for anyone looking for an organic red with body but not harshness.

Is this wine keto friendly?

Dry red wines are generally a better fit for keto-conscious drinkers than sweet, off-dry or dessert wines. This Nero d’Avola tastes dry, with ripe fruit, savoury spice and tannin rather than sweetness. Suitability still depends on your own dietary goals and serving size.

(SKU: CE_Ner_CV)