Sardinia is a Mediterranean island that lies off the southwest coast of Italy.
Sardinia is a Mediterranean island that lies off the southwest coast of Italy.
It’s one of the 20 regions of Italy, and you can expect to find an array of Sardinian wines in its markets.
Unfortunately only a few are imported to the US.
This makes me wonder if I should plan my next vacation there, since wine lovers have been touting it as the next big thing for quite some time.
Must be nice to bask on gorgeous beaches while spotting archaeological sites and sipping interesting wines!
The island is known for its rugged coastline, beautiful beaches and archaeological sites.
The whole of the island is a single wine region. Because it has such a large coastline, here are some of the best wines from around Sardinia to sample.
Carlo Giacosa: Vini di Sardegna – Sardinia
The Carlo Giacosa winery started as a family farm in 1869 and now is one of the most famous names in Sardinia for quality wines. They produce their Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Moscato, Merlot and Pinot Grigio in their vineyard on Monte Rei. The winery also offers tours and tasting sessions to showcase their wines.
The island was an important stop on trading routes between the Eastern and Western Roman empires, which resulted in a diverse and complex history of invasions and conquests.
Sardinia’s history is complex and it lacks many of the features that define the rest of Italy. The island was a key stopping point for trading routes between the Eastern and Western Roman empires, resulting in a long list of invaders and rulers, including Phoenicians, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, Arabs, Spanish Moors, Pisans (from Italy), Genoese (from Italy again), and finally the House of Savoy. Sardinia was also one of the first parts of Italy to be invaded by Ottomans from North Africa in 1534.
For most of its post-Roman existence Sardinia has been dominated by external forces, which means that wine culture developed both independently and with influences from these outside sources. The Phoenicians established vineyards on the island; Carthaginians who settled there planted more grapevines; Roman settlers created even more plantings during their rule.
Sardinia has a hot climate and mostly acidic soil.
Sardinia’s soil is mostly acidic and its vineyards are planted in granite, sandstone, volcanic and calcareous soils. The soil has low water retention and the vineyards are close to the sea.
The climate is hot and dry – this mitigates the effects of rot on the grapes. Vineyards are protected from wind by native tree cover like evergreen oak and juniper.
The Vermentino grape is the most widely planted grape in Sardinia, followed by Cannonau (the Sardinian name for Grenache).
Vermentino
Sardinia’s most widely planted white grape is Vermentino, which is grown in many parts of the Mediterranean but has a more pronounced identity here. The wine it produces is crisp and dry, with a light-to-medium body and flavors of citrus fruit, green apple, peach and herbs. Vermentino wines are best enjoyed within a year or two of their vintage date to fully appreciate their fresh flavor profile and bright acidity. You can also find late-harvest versions that offer notes of peach nectar, dried fruits and honey.
The island is divided into seven provinces, each of which has its own appellation laws for wines produced there.
Sardinia is a tiny island in the Mediterranean Sea, off the coast of Italy. Its wine regions—called appellations—are organized by province. This guide will take you over the Sardinian terrain and help you discover which wines are produced where.
Understanding the number and names of wine appellations can be hard at first, but it’s really important to understand them as they affect both your own experience and that of others who may be tasting different wines. If you’re planning a vacation with friends or family or looking for new or interesting bottles to bring home, this guide should give you sufficient knowledge to make informed decisions.
Of course, if you’ve made wine before, this guide will probably seem unnecessary—but even if not, there are some very helpful tips included here that might still be useful for future outings (and we hope you’ll share any that come to mind!).
Cannonau di Sardegna Riserva DOCG wines are required to age for three years or longer before release.
- Cannonau di Sardegna Riserva DOCG wines are made from the best Cannonau vineyards on the island and are required to age for three years or longer before release.
- This is Italy’s most underrated wine region, and its current lack of popularity makes it a great opportunity for you to find quality bottles at reasonable prices.
- The locals who live in this region have never been ones to chase trends, and they have produced wines here since time immemorial. If you’re interested in experiencing some quality Italian wines that haven’t been affected by fads and fashion, taste some of these bottles.
Wines from Sardinia are worth trying.
Wine regions of Italy: Sardinia
As this is the issue of my first blog, I thought it would be appropriate to get in touch with wine’s characteristics and the best wines from Sardinia. It is a place with long traditions, a long history and special culture. The land is full of small valleys covered with beautiful blue-green sea vegetation, thousands of wild olives trees and vineyards, in which they grow native grapes variety “Nero di Troia”, like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
You can find some nice reds (like Nero di Troia), whites (Pinot Grigio) and rosés made from these grapes. Perhaps the most famous white wines are those made from Sauvignon Blanc. Sauvignon Blanc is one of the main ingredients for making Demi sec wines (half dry wines). As well as white wine, you can find some red ones that are better than others in particular areas such as Gavi from Alghero or Santadi from Pula.
But do not stop there! Do not think that only white wine grows here! There are several varieties that come out very tasty such as Moscato d’Asti or Malvasia de Candia (sweet).
As I have said before: there are many good local wines that come out great!