Hauner 2022 Hierà Rosso Terre Siciliane IGT 750ml

Salina is one of Sicily’s Aeolian Islands, a volcanic archipelago off the northern coast, and Hauner is the island’s best-known family-owned winery, famous above all for its Malvasia delle Lipari. Hierà is its flagship red, grown on the island’s volcanic soils and made from three grapes: 60% Nero d’Avola, 30% Alicante (the local name for Grenache), and 10% Nocera, a rare native variety. Vines average 25 years old, the harvest is in early September, and total production is about 30,000 bottles. The winemaker is Carlo Hauner Jr., and the wine is 13.5% ABV, with an aging potential of about six years.

The winery’s notes describe a “deep ruby” with “an intense and fragrant bouquet of wild berries, sweet spice, and chocolate,” a wine that is “velvety, complex, and full-bodied.” Another description finds “ripe red fruit, sweet spices, chocolate and a light hint of tobacco and minerality, typical of the volcanic soil,” with “a long and persistent finish that leaves memories of black fruit and a pleasant freshness.” James Suckling, reviewing the 2021 vintage, wrote: “Aromas of dark cherries with a thick layer of creamy, earthy spice on the nose, following through to a medium- to full-bodied palate, with well-integrated tannins and a dense, focused mouthful of chocolaty fruit that endures. Different and delicious.” Wine-Searcher’s aggregation of 23 critic reviews across vintages averages about 90/100. Other critics have noted “black cherry, tobacco, and violet” aromas and a savory palate of “mature blackberry, carob and black pepper” with “velvety tannins and fresh acidity.”

It’s a distinctive island red with real character: dark-fruited and savory, with the freshness and salinity of its volcanic island home. Pair it with flavorful and even spicy dishes, and the winery’s own suggestion is fresh tuna with a caper sauce, made with the capers typical of the Aeolian Islands. It’s also very good with beef, venison, and aged cheeses.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Hauner 2022 Hierà Rosso is produced by Azienda Agricola Carlo Hauner, a family-owned winery on the island of Salina, in Sicily’s Aeolian Islands, under winemaker Carlo Hauner Jr. It is a blend of 60% Nero d’Avola, 30% Alicante, and 10% Nocera, from vines averaging 25 years old on volcanic soil, harvested in early September. Production is about 30,000 bottles. Bottled at 13.5% ABV, 750ml.

Critics Reviews

No tasting notes are published specifically for the 2022. For house-style context:

James Suckling (2021 vintage):
“Aromas of dark cherries with a thick layer of creamy, earthy spice on the nose, following through to a medium- to full-bodied palate, with well-integrated tannins and a dense, focused mouthful of chocolaty fruit that endures. Different and delicious. Drink now.”

Wine-Searcher aggregate (23 critic reviews, various vintages): ~90/100

Critic note (earlier vintage):
“Made from 60% Nero d’Avola, 30% Alicante and 10% Nocera, this offers tobacco, violet and black cherry aromas. The savory palate delivers mature blackberry, carob and black pepper flavors alongside velvety tannins and fresh acidity.”

Hauner (official tasting notes):
“Deep ruby with an intense and fragrant bouquet of wild berries, sweet spice, and chocolate. Velvety, complex, and full-bodied.”

Tasting Profile

Nose
Deep ruby with violet reflections. Wild berries, black cherry, and sweet spice, with chocolate, tobacco, violet, and volcanic minerality.

Palate
Velvety, complex, and full-bodied, with blackberry, carob, and black pepper, and fine tannin with fresh acidity.

Finish
Long and persistent, with black fruit and a fresh, mineral lift.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

• Fresh tuna with caper sauce
• Spicy and flavorful dishes
• Beef and venison
• Aged cheeses

Serving Note

Serve at about 16-18°C; decant briefly if you like.