Cerasuolo

Cerasuolo is an Italian wine term describing a cherry-colored wine, typically a rosé or pale red. The name derives from ceraso, meaning cherry, and is used to denote color as well as style across several Italian regions.

One of the best-known Cerasuolo wines is Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo, a DOC produced in Abruzzo from Montepulciano d'Abruzzo grapes. It is fashioned as a dry, fresh pink wine with aromas of strawberry and red cherry, typically served young. It embodies the light, approachable character associated with the Cerasuolo descriptor, balancing acidity and fruit.

Another prominent example is Cerasuolo di Vittoria, a DOCG from Sicily. While the name references the pink color, the wine is traditionally a red blend (Nero d'Avola with Frappato). It has a ruby to garnet hue and flavors of cherry, plum, and spice, and it has held DOCG status since 1968.

Outside these, the term appears in various regional products where a Cerasuolo color is sought for pink wines. In general, Cerasuolo describes a color spectrum from light pink to vivid rose, and producers use the label to signal a crisp, fruit-forward style intended for early drinking.