The Normanno estate is in the town of Marsala on the westernmost spit of Sicilian land. This is a region famous for the fortified wine named after the town since the early eighteenth century, and for producing an enormous quantity of factory-issue bulk wine. The Ciello – named for Cielo of Alcamo, a Sicilian poet who was among the leading lights of Palermo’s extended golden age – is an effort to change what western Sicily is famous for. The winemakers farm organically and use a “pied de cuve” method to ferment to avoid store-bought yeast, despite the large volume of wine they make. For this red wine, the Vesco family farms Sicily’s favorite Nero d’Avola. Their aim is to make a high quality, low-intervention wine at an accessible price. We think they nailed it. The aromas bring to mind a mid-summer trip to the berry patch and sticky fingers: ripe plum, currants, raspberry fruit leather, blueberries and sun-dried herbs. The palate tastes like all those berries were stewed into a pie, full bodied and satisfying with a juicy, clean finish. There’s a lot to love in this late summer quaffer. Try it with cassoulet, ragu and other full-bodied Mediterranean fare.