# Barone Montalto Nero d'Avola Passivento (2022)

- **Producer:** Barone Montalto
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Nero d'Avola
- **Region:** Sicilia, Italy
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 14.5%
- **Average price:** €12
- **Vegan:** No
- **Contains sulphites:** No
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 18–20 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** black plum, black cherry, ripe fruit, vanilla, cloves, leather, dried fruit, earth

## About this wine

The Barone Montalto Nero d'Avola Passivento 2022 is a red wine from Sicily, Italy, produced under the Terre Siciliane IGT appellation. The wine is distinguished by its use of the Passivento winemaking method, which involves drying grapes prior to fermentation to enhance flavor concentration. Barone Montalto is a Sicilian winery committed to respecting nature and producing wines with distinct character, drawing on the island's rich winemaking heritage and favorable Mediterranean climate for its Nero d'Avola grapes.

## Interesting facts

- The 'Passivento' winemaking technique is similar to the Italian 'appassimento' method used for Amarone.
- Nero d'Avola is Sicily's most planted red grape, often called the 'king' of Sicilian reds.
- The wine's name, 'Passivento', hints at the dried grape process.
- Barone Montalto aims to produce wines with great character and respect for nature.

## Food pairing

The wine's medium-plus body and concentrated fruit flavors stand up well to rich, robust dishes. Its tannins complement the protein in meats, while the wine's inherent fruitiness can balance savory and slightly sweet elements in food.

## Wine making process

The Barone Montalto Nero d'Avola Passivento 2022 is produced using the Passivento method, where grapes undergo a partial drying process before fermentation. This technique concentrates the natural sugars and flavors of the Nero d'Avola grapes, contributing to the wine's intensity. Following fermentation, the wine may undergo aging, potentially in wooden barrels, to further develop its structure and complexity. The producer, Barone Montalto, follows a philosophy of respecting nature and crafting wines that reflect the character of their Sicilian origin.