Andiamo! Citalia Magazine Spring/Summer 2023

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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
Discover the Real Italy "Knowledgeable staff and excellent communications. When I phoned to make a late booking, the young lady was very helpful. She recommended the most amazing hotel in Florence, which she said was her personal favourite in the city. Really enjoyed our stay and the service was amazing.” James D., Travelled to Rome & Florence, March 2023. If you enjoyed reading this issue of Andiamo! magazine then look out for our next complimentary issue. Out Autumn 2023.
Page 1 and 2: Spring/Summer 2023 Andiamo! Indiana
Page 3 and 4: WELCOME Andiamo! The Explorer Hello
Page 5 and 6: CONTENTS 36 The Magic of Lake Maggi
Page 7 and 8: INSIDE ITALY TRENTINO- ALTO ADIGE F
Page 9 and 10: COVER STORY Parco Archeologico dell
Page 11 and 12: INDIANA JONES IN SICILY Trapani The
Page 13 and 14: Ravello Arguably the most romantic
Page 15 and 16: TREASURES OF THE COAST Capri Capri
Page 17 and 18: I frequently book special occasions
Page 19 and 20: Hotel Covo dei Saraceni Embrace the
Page 21 and 22: ITALY'S LUXURIOUS RESORTS Excelsior
Page 23 and 24: ADVERTORIAL Days 1-3 Palermo Start
Page 25 and 26: The Big Dig: Paestum The stories of
Page 27 and 28: Have you heard of the Basilicata ca
Page 29 and 30: THE LOST FOODS OF ITALY Finding Loc
Page 31 and 32: Rome Beginning in Rome, to truly ge
Page 33 and 34: UNEARTHING ROME & TUSCANY Toscana R
Page 35 and 36: A 7 night holiday in Calabria, stay
Page 37 and 38: Lake Orta To the west of Lake Maggi
Page 39 and 40: THE MAGIC OF LAKE ORTA & LAKE MAGGI
Page 41 and 42: I absolutely loved the Sansevero Ch
Page 43 and 44: Have you heard of the poetry cave o
Page 45 and 46: Laveno Mombello | Lake Maggiore Bru
Page 47 and 48: UP, UP & AWAY Monte Solaro | Capri
Page 49: With its impressive untamed coastli

Andiamo! Citalia Magazine Spring/Summer 2023

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