Nero d'Avola, also named Calabrese, can be considered the most typical and representative red-berry grape variety in Sicily. The synonymous Calabrese is an "italianisation" of the old dialectal Sicilian name of the vine "Calavrisi" literally meaning grape (cala) from Avola or "coming from Avola". It was selected by vine growers of Avola, in the province of Syracuse, many centuries ago. From Avola it spread to Noto (SR) and Pachino (SR) and later to the rest of Sicily with the exception of Etna. It is a vine that, properly cultivated and vinified, gives great aged red wines. The rich aroma of red fruits, persistent even after many years, is the most significant and characteristic component of this wine.

It is also suited to the production of young and nouveau wines of red color with intense purple tints, which are very suggestive, with a very marked red fruit (plum, blackberry) aroma and reasonably tannic taste.