SARDEGNA

Location

The largest of the Islands west of the Tuscan coast.

Climate

Mediterranean with baking hot days and warm nights. Winters are short. Being an island the sea acts as a major climate influencer, mitigating cold weather and giving plants desperately needed humidity during the summer. Increasing precipitation this Millennium has seen the "advent" of Peronospora as a problem

Topography

Fairly flat all over the Island the north having more rolling hills. The north east of the Vermentino country is very hilly (over 1000m)

Soils

Many vines still find themselves in sandy, coastal locations. The north east is of granitic origin…. Could this be the secret to Gallura?

Production

824.000 HL

 
                                                                                                                                                                                              Abruzzo        Basilicata        Calabria        Campania        Emilia-Romagna        Friuli-VeneziaGiulia        Lazio        Liguria        Lombardia        Marche        Molise        Piemonte        Puglia        Sardegna        Sicilia        Toscana        Trentino-AltoAdige        Umbria        Valled'Aosta        Veneto                                     

Our producers

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Featured

Grapes

  • Description

    Since being introduced by the Spaniards, Bovale has split into 2 clones: Bovale Grande and Bovale Sardo. Synonym for the 1st is Bovale di Spagna, while the 2nd Muristellu, Muristeddu, Bovaleddu and apparently resembles Mourvedre. Good levels of colour and extract.

    Principle Wines

    Campidano di Terralba, Mandrolisai (major blend component). Isola dei Nuraghi (Kore Argiolas)

  • Description

    Of Spanish origin which has since evolved resembling Monastrell. Aka Bastardo Nero.

    Principle Wines

    Alghero

  • Description

    Sardegna's most planted black grape (20%) seemingly introduced by the Spanish during their domination around 300 years ago. Ampelographers are convinced it is the same as Grenache. Of medium vigour and potentially very productive and hence needing poor soils. There is a notable difference in quality between the alberello grape grown on hills producing wines of good structure and pepperiness and the higher production training systems on the flatlands which produce more superficiale fruitier styles. The vast majority is grown in the south of the island.

    Principle Wines

    Canonau di Sardegna

  • Description

    Of Western Mediterranean origin (Carinena/ Manzuela in Spain and Carignan in France), almost certainly imported by the Spanish under their domination although some maintain it arrived first in Sardegna from the phonecians, then onto North Africa and subsequently Spain. Thrives on heat on the sandy flatlands where previously were alberello vines. Wines have deep colour and extract with low tannins, some can be too chewy. The main growing area is Sulcis in the south.

    Principle Wines

    Carignano di Sulcis

  • Description

    Giro' of Spanish origin makes sweet reds traditionally fortified, from low lying plains around Cagliari.

    Principle Wines

    Giro di Cagliari

  • Description

    Sardegna's second most diffuse black grape. Ancient variety and sometimes known as Mora, Monaca. Wines are correct but not as exciting as some other Sardian grapes.

    Principle Wines

    Monica di Sardegna, Monica di Cagliari

  • Description

    White grape of ancient origin once grown all over the island now confined to the southern half, making all styles of wine from dry to liquoroso.

    Principle Wines

    Nasco di Cagliari

  • Description

    See Piedmont

    Principle Wines

    See Piedmont

  • Description

    Nieddu means black in Sardinian dialect. Aka Nieddumannu. Nieddera is grown varietally for the IGT Valle del Tirso. Jammy but vegetal fruit. Similar to Sicily's Perricone?

    Principle Wines

    Valle del Tirso

  • Description

    Very productive, disease resistant white variety and hence very popular among growers.

    Principle Wines

    Nuragus di Cagliari

  • Description

    Said to be of Tuscan origin aka Barberone. Widely planted but usually in blended and used for homemade plonk..

    Principle Wines

    Nuragus di Cagliari

  • Description

    See Tuscany

    Principle Wines

    See Tuscany

  • Description

    A fairly recent arrival to Sardinia, firstly arriving to Corsica through the Spanish in the 14th Century and then onto Liguria and finally arriving in Sardinia a little over 100 years ago.

    Principle Wines

    Vermentino di Gallura, Vermentino di Sardegna

Major Appellations DOCG/DOC

  • Description

    Grown all over Sardinia but has the following subzones: Capo Ferrato, Jerzu, Nepente di Oliena. Cannonau has undoubted relations with Grenache and Garnacha, although it is distinctly Sardinian. The tradition alberello training system which gives low yields of intense, sweet, alcoholic wines is being gradually replaced by wire trained system and more drinkable styles.

    Principle Wines

    Cannonau

  • Description

    Produced in the province of Nuoro in the northwest of Sardinia, around the town of Bosa on the coast. The style of this white dessert wine is more oxidative than its Italian cousins of Recioto di Soave or Greco di Bianco for instance.

    Principle Wines

    Malvasia di Sardegna

  • Description

    Various styles are produced from fortified (liquoroso) to dry and naturally sweet, whose origins (as with the myriad of other Malvasie) are probably Greek, produced in the southern most part of Sardinia. Produced extensively in the southern half of the Island.

    Principle Wines

    Malvasia di Sardegna

  • Description

    Native to Sardinia, and extensively grown in the southern half of the Island, producing Sardinia's native red. Probably brought to the Sardinia by the Spanish

    Principle Wines

    Permitted Grapes

  • Description

    Similar to Monica di Sardegna but is usually a wine of a lesser structure. It is produced all over the Island

    Principle Wines

    Monica with some Pascale di Cagliari and Carignano

  • Description

    Grown in the southern half of the island usually, alberello trained on the hot plains. Late harvested and dried – giving a sweet nectar.

    Principle Wines

    Moscato Bianco

  • Description

    Grown all over the island and usually made in the sweet spumante version.

    Principle Wines

    Moscato Bianco

  • Description

    Grown extensively on the Mediterranean coast from Spain to Liguria and the Islands and of Spanish. First planted, fairly recently, in the Gallura part of Northern Sardinia where it expresses itself best. Here the mistral winds influence the growing season and the soils are dry and harsh. The wines minerality also due to granitic substrata. The superior white wine of Sardegna. Produces wines of peachy texture.

    Principle Wines

    Vermentino

  • Description

    The usual denomination for the inferior Vermentino grown outside the Gallura area where lower yields and granitic soils cultivate a far superior grape. Here the wine simply lacks personality and the texture one searched for in the superior version.

    Principle Wines

    Vermentino

  • Description

    This is a small appellation around the town of Oristano in the west of the island. Nothing to do with the other Vernaccias of Tuscany and Alto Adge.. Vernaccia simply means local (Vernacular) and hence we assume it to be a native Sardian variety. Makes dry whites as well as sweet and liquoroso.

    Principle Wines

    Vernaccia di Oristano

Sub Appellations DOCG/DOC

  • Principle Wines

    Cabernet, Chardonnay, Cagniulari, Sangiovese, Sauvignon, Torbato, Trebbiano, Vermentino

  • Principle Wines

    Sangiovese, Trebbiano

  • Principle Wines

    Bovale di Spagna, Bovale Sardo

  • Principle Wines

    Carignano del Sulcis DOC

  • Principle Wines

    Girò

  • Principle Wines

    Bovale Sardo, Monica, Cannonau

  • Principle Wines

    Moscato Bianco

  • Principle Wines

    Nasco di Cagliari DOC

  • Principle Wines

    Nuragus

  • Principle Wines

    Semidano

  • Colli del Limbara
    Nurra or Nurra Algherese
    Provincia di Nuoro or Nuoro
    Barbagia
    Isola dei Nuraghi
    Marmilla
    Ogliastra
    Parteolla
    Planargia
    Romangia
    Sibiola
    Tharros
    Trexenta
    Valle del Tirso
    Valli di Porto Pino