In the glass
Aroma: cherry, plum, spice, Mediterranean herbs
Palate: cherry fruit, medium tannin, smooth, warm finish
Donnafugata's entry-level Nero d'Avola offers the grape's warm, plum-cherry character with the smooth, approachable style the estate is known for at this price point.
What it pairs with
-
Pasta with meat sauce
A reliable everyday Sicilian red that suits tomato-based meat pasta dishes. -
Grilled sausages with peppers
Medium tannin and warm fruit complement charred pork sausage with roast peppers. -
Pecorino fresco
Smooth medium-bodied style works with fresh-to-semi-aged sheep's-milk cheeses.
How to serve Donnafugata Sherazade
Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Pasta with meat sauce, Grilled sausages with peppers, Pecorino fresco. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Sherazade was launched by Donnafugata as an accessible varietal Nero d'Avola to complement the Mille e Una Notte flagship. Like the flagship, the name references the Arabian Nights storytelling tradition of Sicily's Arab heritage.
- 2002 — First Sherazade varietal Nero d'Avola launched as estate entry red
Facts
- Producer
- Donnafugata
- Grapes
- Nero d'Avola (100%)
- Classification
- Sicilia DOC
- Oak
- Aged in large Slavonian oak casks and stainless steel
- ABV
- 13.5%
- Price
- EUR 14-20 at retail
- Drinking window
- 2-8 from vintage
- First vintage
- 2002
Frequently asked about Donnafugata Sherazade
What does Donnafugata Sherazade taste like?
On the nose, cherry, plum, spice, Mediterranean herbs. On the palate, cherry fruit, medium tannin, smooth, warm finish. Structurally full-bodied, medium tannins, medium acidity with a warm, persistent finish. Donnafugata's entry-level Nero d'Avola offers the grape's warm, plum-cherry character with the smooth, approachable style the estate is known for at this price point.
When should I drink Donnafugata Sherazade?
Drink 2-8 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Donnafugata Sherazade?
Pasta with meat sauce is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Grilled sausages with peppers and Pecorino fresco. A reliable everyday Sicilian red that suits tomato-based meat pasta dishes.
What grapes are in Donnafugata Sherazade?
The blend is Nero d'Avola (100%). The wine is classified as Sicilia DOC.