2025 Bondar Nero d'Avola | 95 Point McLaren Vale Nero

🔥 95 POINTS. $36 RRP. RIDICULOUSLY DRINKABLE.

A richly flavoured and characterful McLaren Vale Nero d'Avola 

One of the most exciting and food-friendly Italian varietals grown in Australia's most celebrated Mediterranean-climate wine region.

Sicily's signature red grape. 

95 points - Halliday Wine Companion 

McLaren Vale, SA

$36 a bottle
Nero d’Avola • Bondar • McLaren Vale

"A richly flavoured and characterful McLaren Vale Nero d'Avola — warm and expressive, with dark cherry and plum intensity, violet florals and the earthy, spiced complexity that defines Bondar as one of McLaren Vale's most celebrated and respected boutique producers."

Tasting Notes

Appearance:
Deep ruby with a vivid, luminous core — rich, warm and inviting.

Aroma:
Rich and expressive with:

• dark cherry and plum
• blackberry and dark fruit
• violet florals and spice
• earthy complexity, dried herbs and subtle oak

Classic Nero d'Avola varietal character with McLaren Vale's signature warmth and generosity — rich, expressive and deeply food-friendly.

Palate:
Medium to full-bodied with soft, approachable tannins and fresh acidity.
Expect layers of:

• dark cherry, plum and blackberry
• rich, concentrated dark fruit
• violet florals, spice and earthy complexity
• dried herbs and subtle oak
• soft tannins and fresh acidity delivering balance and length

The wine delivers dark fruit richness with earthy, savoury complexity, combining Nero d'Avola's Sicilian character with McLaren Vale's Mediterranean warmth and Bondar's celebrated minimal-intervention winemaking approach.

Finish:
Long and savoury with lingering dark cherry, spice, earthy complexity and soft tannins.

About Bondar Nero d’Avola

Bondar is one of McLaren Vale's most celebrated and respected boutique producers, founded by Andre Bondar and winemaker Rob Mack with a commitment to showcasing the extraordinary potential of McLaren Vale's Mediterranean climate for both traditional and alternative varieties. Nero d'Avola — Sicily's signature red grape — thrives in McLaren Vale's warm, dry Mediterranean climate, producing wines of dark fruit intensity, earthy complexity and food-friendly character that honour the variety's Sicilian heritage while expressing the unique character of one of Australia's most celebrated wine regions.

It represents:

• characterful McLaren Vale Nero d'Avola from one of the region's most celebrated and respected boutique producers
• Bondar's commitment to showcasing the extraordinary potential of Italian varietals in McLaren Vale's Mediterranean climate
• outstanding value for a food-friendly, characterful Australian Nero d'Avola

Wine Details

• Vintage: 2025
• Variety: Nero d'Avola
• Region: McLaren Vale, SA
• Producer: Bondar
• Serving Temperature: 16–18°C
• Cellaring: Drink now – 2030

Food Pairings

• Pasta al ragù
• Grilled lamb cutlets
• Slow-braised beef
• Aged Pecorino
• Charcuterie and salumi
• Sicilian-style dishes

Why We Love It

This is richly flavoured, characterful McLaren Vale Nero d'Avola from one of the region's most celebrated and respected boutique producers.
At $36, it delivers outstanding Italian varietal character and McLaren Vale warmth at an exceptional everyday price.

A must-have for lovers of food-friendly Italian varietals and great-value McLaren Vale alternative reds.

Searching for Australian Nero d'Avola? The 2025 Bondar Nero d'Avola is a 95-point McLaren Vale red showcasing Bondar's bright, savoury and finely structured house style. Nero d'Avola thrives in the warmth of McLaren Vale, while the Willunga vineyard's rocky clay soils and maritime influence help retain freshness and energy. Expect cherry, wild raspberry, redcurrant, florals, white pepper, tobacco, earth and spice with fine tannins and superb drinkability.