Finest Nero d’Avola

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28 September 2026

This Finest Nero d’Avola was one my wife picked up at Tesco and it turned out to be a great choice.

It is good to see the producer, Colomba Bianca, actually named rather than finding another anonymous bulk-bottled wine. This is bottled at source in western Sicily, around Mazara del Vallo and Salemi in the province of Trapani, by this wine co-operative representing some 2,480 individual grape growers. Colomba Bianca is not simply a mass wine producer either. The co-operative has been moving towards more quality-focused bottled wines, including organic ranges and wines made from selected old vineyards.

The grape is Nero d’Avola and this is the 2025 vintage. In the glass it is a deep ruby colour. The aroma is actually more intense than expected, full of black cherry, plum, liquorice and Mediterranean herbs. There is plenty of ripe plum and cherry when you drink it, together with warm spice and a slightly savoury character. It is dry, and although the label describes it as full-bodied, I would say it is medium-bodied. That is absolutely fine and, for Nero d’Avola at this level, probably what I would expect. The finish is warm, plummy and spiced, and we have also found it works really well with food.

At £8.75 in Tesco this already represents great value, but we bought it while it was on a double offer, reduced to £7.50 and then with another 25% off, bringing it down to £5.63. How do they do it? For that price it is exceptional. One clue might be the 13% ABV. Look at Colomba Bianca’s own-label 2025 Vitese and Resilience Nero d’Avola wines and they come in at 14% and 14.5%. I suspect this Tesco bottling has been produced specifically for the UK market at a lower alcohol level to reduce the duty cost. If that is the thinking behind it, it is very clever to do this while retaining such a great taste.

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