Red grape
Nerello Mascalese
A pale, high-acid Sicilian red grape with red cherry, floral notes and fine but noticeable tannin, best known from Etna.
At a glance
- Red cherry
- High acidity
- Fine tannin
Recognize it
Pale color with high acidity and fine, noticeable tannin. Red cherry and floral notes lead. Earthy or smoky notes can appear, but they are not reliable grape markers.
Similar grapes
Pinot Noir
Similar pale color and high acidity.
Difference Nerello Mascalese usually has more tannin and a firmer, more savory palate.
Nebbiolo
Similar pale color and high acidity.
Difference Nebbiolo has much more tannin and leans toward rose and tar; Nerello Mascalese toward red cherry and floral notes.