COS was started in 1980 and is so called due to the initials of the surnames of the 3 founders - Giambattista Cilia, Giusto Occhipinti and Pinuccia Strano. The estate is based in the town of Vittoria in the Ragusa province of south east Sicily and was originally begun on a shoestring budget. Today, however, COS produces some of the finest wines on the island from native grape varieties such as Frappato, Nera d'Avola, Grecanico and Inzolia. Nero di Lupo is 100% Nero d'Avola and is unfiltered and oak aged for up to 24 months. Rich and intense, this pairs well with hearty meat stews.

A dark crimson red in colour. On the nose, aromas of pomegranate and cloves with warm tannic notes. On the palate, complex and mineral with dried fruit flavours backed up with notes of almonds and smoke. The tannins give this wine excellent structure and the finish is smooth and lingering. Try with caponata siciliana - a traditional vegetable stew of courgettes, potatoes, celery and peppers all cooked with green olives, capers, pine nuts and fresh basil. Also excellent with veal cutlets coated with breadcrumbs, grated provolone, garlic and parsley.