Donnafugata Sherazade

ABV 12.5%
The Rallo family has made wine in historic Marsala since 1851, and their ancient cellars tunnel beneath the city. They were one of the first families to begin making high quality table wine when sales of traditional sweet Marsala started to decline, launching the Donnafugata label in 1983, and championing some of the more obscure regional Italian grape varieties. Today, they have two estates in Sicily: a modern winery and 260 hectares at Contessa Entellina in the hills east of Marsala; and 68 hectares on the island of Pantelleria. Donnafugata means 'fleeing woman' - a reference to Queen Maria Carolina who escaped the court of Naples in the early 19th century with her husband Ferdinand IV of Bourbon when Napoleon?s troops arrived. The couple took refuge in Sicily at Santa Margherita Belice palace, also the favourite residence of celebrated writer Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa and depicted on the Mille e Una Notte label.
The name of this wine derives from Scheherazade, the legendary Persian queen, main protagonist and storyteller of A Thousand and One Nights.
From the 2009 vintage, Sherazade is now made solely from Nero d'Avola grapes.
Deep ruby red in colour this wine is vibrant on the nose with black fruit, balsamic and mineral tones. Exuberant flavours of blackberries and sour cherries along with a touch of sweet cocoa abound on the palate which is rounded and youthful, perfect for drinking young and even slightly chilled.