Az. Ag. Cos, 'Pithos' Rosso 2019

Sicilian stalwarts Nero d'Avola and Frappato together here, fermented in amphorae. It's got amazing intensity and presence that belies its low alcohol and fresh acidity. Wonderful with a bit of a chill.

Producer: Azienda Agricola COS

Region/Country: Vittoria, Sicily, Italy

Grape/s: Nero d'Avola, Frappato

Production Method: Biodynamic and Organic farming. Wild yeast fermentation in amphora. Bottled unfined and unfiltered with minimal SO2

Style: Plum fruited and savoury with crisp acidity and relatively light body. Really nice chilled down

Pairing Suggestion: Mediterranean dishes, Pizza, anything tomato based!

Azienda Agricola COS

The fact that we get to drink Sicilian wine en masse these days is largely thanks to COS. Three school mates pretty much single-handedly put Sicily on the international wine drinking map following a period of full decline. Giambattista Cilia, Cirino Strano, and Giusto Occhipinti (COS is an ancronym of their surnames) settled into their current style of natural, unaltered wines from organic and biodynamically farmed vineyards. They use only wild yeasts, and clay amphorae are a signature of their work. Now tried and tested the wines of COS should be on everyone's list, natural fan or not. They are the real thing.