Perricone

**Perricone** is a red grape native to Sicily, also known there as Pignatello, long valued as a workhorse for blending and for adding backbone to fortified Marsala. **In the glass** — dark-hued and rustic, offering red and black berry fruit alongside earthy, herbal notes; it tends toward firm tannins and moderate acidity, giving a sturdy, savoury feel. **Where it grows** — almost entirely in western Sicily, where it plays a supporting role to Nero d'Avola and appears in traditional Marsala, though a handful of producers now bottle it on its own. **At the table** — pairs well with braised meats, aged cheese and hearty tomato-based pasta. **Cellaring** — its tannin lets it hold and improve over a few years, but most versions are enjoyable within their first several years.

Wines

• Perripò Perricone — Caruso & Minini
• Regaleali Rosso del Conte — Tasca d'Almerita
• Rosso del Conte — Tasca d'Almerita