Manfredi Rosso, Terre Siciliane IGP 2023 - 75cl
Franco Manfredi trained as a lawyer and worked in Rome and Milan before returning home to Marsala to make wine on his family's land. This Rosso is his everyday red done the natural way — a field-blend of native and near-forgotten Sicilian grapes, made with as little intervention as he can get away with.
The blend leans on Nocera and Nerello Mascalese alongside Nero d'Avola and a little Corinto, farmed organically in western Sicily. Half the fruit is destemmed, half goes in as whole bunches, foot-trodden and fermented in stainless steel on wild yeasts — no added yeast, no fining, no filtration. Bottled under the broad Terre Siciliane IGP, it's the kind of honest, low-fi wine that has made Sicily one of the most exciting corners of Italy for drinking well without spending much.
In the glass it's bright and unforced: red cherry and pomegranate, dried Mediterranean herbs and a dusting of pepper and scrubland spice. The palate is fresh and light on its feet, gently juicy, with a saline snap on the finish that keeps you coming back. This is a chill-it-if-you-like, drink-it-tonight red — no need to cellar, no need to fuss. Perfect midweek wine, and it punches above its price.
How to Serve
Serve at 13-15°C — a touch cooler than most reds suits it. No decanting needed; just pour. A standard red-wine glass is fine.
Where to Drink It
Bright in Hackney, whose list is full of exactly this energy. Sager+Wilde for a glass at the bar. Planque, if you want to dig deeper into low-intervention Italy.
Food Pairings
Slightly chilled alongside a pizza or a bowl of caponata is the honest answer. It also loves grilled sardines with lemon.
