Nerello
Cappuccio is a dark-skinned grape variety from Sicily, most famous for its application in the
red wines of Etna and Faro.
It is rarely found as a varietal wine, and usually plays second fiddle to its
cousin Nerello Mascalese, which
is more numerous in plantings and considered to be of a higher quality. On its
own, Nerello Cappuccio makes a wine that is soft and richly colored, with some
cherry flavors on the palate.
The
variety thrives in the volcanic soils of Mount Etna, particularly at higher
altitudes. Here, the combination of soil and climate result in elegance and
structure in the wines. It ripens slightly earlier than Nerello Mascalese, and
buds reasonably early; spring frost can sometimes be an issue. However, Nerello
Cappuccio is capable of reaching higher-than-average acidity and has plenty of tannin, making it a good choice for
vinification.