Sardinia is not without reason called the kingdom of white wine and a real giant in the manufacture of dessert and fortified alcohol. Planting grapes occupy more than 67,000 ha. Original wines of Sardinia for decades do not lose their relevance and prestigious status.
Learning from someone else's experience
The popularity of Sardinian wines did not suffer at all from the fact that the islanders themselves did not form a winemaking culture. Wine did not take much of the early medieval farmers, and only under the powerful influence of Spanish and French liquor traditions in the 12th century the island was actively engaged in vineyards.
Sardinia quickly fell in love with the foreign vines Monica (Monica) and Cannonau (Cannonau), brought by the Spaniards and Greeks, local winegrowers successfully mastered the new variety - Vermentino. The influence of French winemakers was also shown - in a short time on the island, large-scale plantings of the vine of Carignano were designated.
At the dawn of the 19th century, Sardinia was fully established in the production of strong red wine, established a solid supply of raw materials to the mainland for blending. Until now, the best wines of Sardinia are fermented from the ancient Spanish breeds of Vermentino and Cannonau.
But it is wrong to think that apart from Spanish and French grapes, Sardinia does not have its own varieties. Rare enough vines are bred on the island, which can not be found anywhere else in Italy:
- Jiro
- Nuragus (Nuragus);
- Torbato (Torbato);
- Nasco
In the largest volumes, Sardinia grows precisely the Nuragus vine, which got its name from the ancient Sardinian towers of Nuraghe. Vineyards of this breed occupy 35% of the territory of all vine plantations on the island. By the way, the second place in the ranking of berries is Vermentino, which modern Sardinians confidently revered as a native variety.
Vermentino di Gallura is the only Sardinian wine of the elite DOCG class (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita). The drink is created in Gallura under optimal conditions for caring for the vine and observing production technology. White wine, made from concentrated vermentino with light apple-floral notes, perfectly complements light fish dishes. Status golden drink provides a worthy reputation for winemaking in Sardinia. The price of a bottle of Vermentino di Gallura ranges from 20-45 euros, depending on the year and the area where the crop was harvested.
Manufacturers
The most powerful wineries are located in the north of the region. The excellent climate and fertile soils allow you to achieve a quality crop and harvest truly amazing wine.
Capichera
The real winemaking titan is Kapiker's farm in Gallura, glorified outside the island of Sardinia thanks to the excellent wines of Vermentino and Carignano. The manufacturer has chosen his creed as hard work and devotion to his native land and sincerely follows these principles since 1978.
Three years after the founding, Caprichera Vermentino wine entered the market, significantly unlike similar wines: more intense, noticeably aromatic, restrained, with a deliciously soft aftertaste. It is in the cellars of Kapikera that Vendimia Tardiva ripens today - a unique drink titled the most exquisite South Italian wine.
Vendimia Tardiva is a wonderful dry drink of a warm golden color, with a strength of 14.5%. In the bouquet of the drink felt herbs, notes of citrus and aromatic honey. Vendemmia Tardiva has the status of IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica) - a quality table wine typical of its area, that is, Kapikers. A bottle of sturdy white Tardiva can be opened to the dining table, which features delicious seafood and delicious cheese. Moreover, the price of such wine is quite moderate.
Pleasing wine connoisseurs with wonderful products, the company's leaders without further ado defended the belief that respecting traditions is not blindly clinging to the past. True love for the cause, according to Kapikera, is concentrated in the ability to apply innovative techniques without violating the ancient nature of Sardinian wine, which contains the power of the sun, the energy of the sea and the power of the Gallur nature.
Argiolas
Another great Sardinian wine is Turriga. A rich drink is obtained from a mixture of Cannonau and Carignano, matured in the oak barrels of the Argiolas winery. The recipe belongs to wine maestro Giacomo Tachis (Giacomo Tachis) - a representative of the Dynasty Antinori. Dear senor deduced the formula for dry red wine having a rich pomegranate color. The strong taste of the cannonau wine material is flavored with tart notes of berries, the drink has a long aromatic finish. The strength of wine is 14.5%, which makes it a good companion for meat, poultry, hard cheeses and pasta. The price of a bottle of Turrig is quite high - about 20 euros, but it's worth it!
A winemaker interested in the production capabilities of Sardinia began to promote local wine on the European market. Thanks to his perseverance, other types of wines also gained popularity: Costera and Korem, which emerged from Argiolos cellars. The gourmets of wine farms were no less fond of: Santadi (Santadi, Terre Brune) and Rocca Rubia, and even the rather ordinary cabernet Marchese di Villamarina did not go unnoticed.
The products of the Argiolas winery, which has earned the trust of consumers since 1918, today have received many awards and quality marks. Magnificent wine, to the creation of which the incomparable Giacomo Takis had a hand in hand, is loved and known throughout the world.
Carignano
Sardinia boasts the viticulture of Carignano del Sulcis, which has Spanish roots. This is a well-organized wine-making zone, cultivating breeding of old Spanish varieties: Carignano and Bovale. Of the most interesting wine products:
- Vernaccia di Oristano (Vernaccia di Oristano) made from Vernaccia berries. It is distinguished by a beautiful golden hue and a tangible aftertaste of almond nut. The strength of the drink is 15%. It has a rather sweet taste, due to which it is often served chilled to sweets.
- Giro di Cagliari (Giro di Cagliari) - an unusual wine created on the basis of the red Spanish vine Giro. Intense color and sweet aromatic taste will delight fans of young wines. Excerpt from this type of wine ranges from 8 months to 2 years, the final strength and price of alcohol depends on this indicator.
The wines of the Kerchi (Cherchi), Surau (Surrau) and Malvasia Bosa (Malvasia di Bosa) distilleries are not bad in demand. Malvasia is one of the most common white grape varieties, not only in Italy, but also in Spain and Portugal. In Sardinia, from this variety are made: Malvasia Bosa and Malvasia di Cagliari (Malvasia di Cagliari). Both drinks have the DOC category (Denominazione di Origine Controllata), that is, they are certified at a fairly high level.
Wine material pleases the eye with a transparent straw color, in some cases it may have a pinkish tone. At the same time, the wine is quite strong, within 12.5-16%, the taste is deep and sweet. Malvasia is a dessert wine that pours river on numerous Italian holidays. A bottled product starts at a price of 18 euros, and on completely legal rights.
Each Sardinian winery has a special status, recipe, technology and concept, with special care embodied by talented and enthusiastic winemakers. Therefore, happy Sardinia is proud of its wonderful wine, and if you do not believe it, quickly head for the warm shores of the wine kingdom and see for yourself.
