Andiamo! Citalia Magazine Spring/Summer 2023

A WINE LOVER'S GUIDE TO SARDINIA
Cannonau
Cannonau is undoubtedly Sardinia’s most popular grape variety, which
is used for strong, full-bodied red wines with a wonderful dark summer
berry aroma and earthy notes of flora, pepper, and spice. Better known
as a grenache or garnacha in other areas of Europe, cannonau is the
most planted and, indeed, drunk wine on the island, and is produced
by the cagnulari grape in the northwest, and the carignano grape in the
south (more on this one later). This wine enjoys being aged.
You’ll find wineries with cannonau everywhere. We recommend you
visit or drink bottles from Pala Vini to the north of Cagliari, Cantini
Quartomoro in Ostriano, and Cantina Gostolai in Oliena. In the north
of the island in Sassari Province, head to the small winery of Cantina
Sorres, which, as the name suggests, is run by two sisters, and where
you can find a good organic cannonau.
Vermentino
Popular in the northeast of the island around the cities of Santa Teresa
and Olbia, vermentino is Sardinia’s most celebrated white wine. It’s an
extraordinarily fruity, delicate white, with a refreshing but balanced
acidity. Making up nearly 30 per cent of the island’s wine production,
the vermentino vines are planted to face north to avoid direct heat and
sunlight. The evening temperature drops and windy climate provide a
certain complexity to its flavour.
Some sommeliers would argue that you can taste the sea within it,
as it has a slight saltiness to its taste, alongside notes of citrus, apple,
peach, almond, and white flowers. Vermentino di Gallura is Sardinia’s
only DOCG wine, Italy’s highest ranking wine appellation, and has
been growing in the Gallura province for centuries. While typically a
still wine, you may also come across sparkling vermentino. This wine is
perfectly paired with the local fish and seafood dishes.
In the northwest town of Alghero, you’ll find Sardinia’s most acclaimed
and award-winning winery, Sella & Mosca, where over 1,000 acres of
vineyards are cradled between the hills and the sea. You’ll also find many
family-run wineries, such as Capichera in Gallura, serving this grape.
Carignano
Cultivated in the southwestern corner, carignano is Sardinia's other
popular red, which is a more light and medium-bodied red compared
to cannonau, and has a regal spirit. You can expect a sweet spiced
aroma of cinnamon, clove, tobacco, and notes of cherry, licorice, and
plum. You’ll find it being produced around Sulcis, Carbonia-Iglesias,
as well as in Cagliari and Teulada. Carignano is perfectly paired with
dishes of wild game or aged cheeses. The grape variety also produces
an excellent rosé wine, which has a much lower alcoholic strength than
most rosés. The iconic wine of carignano is Terre Brune, which is one
of the more expensive bottles found in Sardinia. We recommend you
visit the wineries of Cantina Mesa or Cantina di Santadi to try their
potent bottles.
Vernaccia
Just south of Gallura in Oristano on the west coast, you’ll find the local
Vernaccia di Oristano DOC, a powerful dry yet velvety wine. With an
amazing complexity of umami flavours, it was the first Sardinian wine
to receive DOC status, and is aged in oak or chestnut barrels. We
recommend you visit Cantina della Vernaccia for a tasting.
Nuragus
In the southern province of Cagliari is one of Sardinia’s lesser-known
indigenous varieties, nuragus, which is a dry, light-bodied white wine
that is best served without being aged or chilled. It’s got a refreshing
taste with zesty citrus, and delicate notes of ripe apple and white
flowers. Head just north of Cagliari to the leading winery of Argiolas to
try it, while also trying their award-winning bottle of Turriga, which is a
blend of cannonau, bovale, and malvasia.
Bovale
Grown throughout the island, but particularly found in the central
region of Mandrolisai, bovale is a red grape variety that is genetically
similar to wild grapevines. It produces a smooth and friendly, mediumbodied
red wine with aromas of blue and red berries. You can get good
bottles from La Giara.
Malvasia
Unlike the rest of the Mediterranean, in Sardinia the malvasia grape
is only found white. You’ll easily find Malvasia di Cagliari, a dry white
wine with notes of tropical fruit, but there’s also the romantic dessert
wine of Malvasia di Bosa with its notes of honeysuckle, chamomile,
and almond. The fortified version is made in the town of Bosa, just
south of Alghero. It’s pure treasure if you find a bottle during your
holiday as it’s rather hard to find outside of the northwest coast!
Torbato
Exclusively grown on the northwest of Sardinia, where it was imported
from Spain, the ancient white grape variety of torbato is one of the
rarest wines you’ll encounter on the island. You’ll find this hidden
gem in a still crisp, dry white wine that’s refreshing and aromatic,
with notes of white flowers and fruit, and the sea. However, you’ll
also find a sparkling variety, Spumante Brut, which is often used as
an aperitif. There are just 200 acres left of torbato in the world, and
it’s thanks to the wine estate Sella & Mosca who helped revive it. We
highly recommend you visit them, as they offer a small museum on the
winemaking history, as well as a fabulous cellar and wine shop.
A 5 night holiday in Sardinia, staying at Grand Relais Dei Nuraghi, starts from £1,299 per person.
Car hire recommended. Speak to one of our Personal Travel Planners on 01293 765061
50
Citalia.com