Sardinian Wine Stories

  • Cannonau or Garnacha: What Came First, the Chicken or the Egg?

    In a previous post, I introduced Cannonau, the most widely grown black grape variety in Sardinia — the cornerstone of the island’s red wines. I also explained that Cannonau is genetically identical to Grenache (France) or Garnacha (Spain), one of the world’s most abundantly planted high-quality grape varieties. A natural follow-up question then arises: where…

    Read more: Cannonau or Garnacha: What Came First, the Chicken or the Egg?

  • Tasting Note: Tiu Paolo 2019 – Cantina Depperu – Colli del Limbara IGT Nebbiolo

    This tasting note concerns a rather unusual Sardinian red wine: a varietal Nebbiolo, the world-famous Piedmontese grape behind Barolo and Barbaresco, two of Italy’s most iconic wines. Tiu Paolo is produced by Cantina Depperu under the IGT Colli del Limbara designation. This inland area of Gallura, in north-eastern Sardinia, is better known for its stunning…

    Read more: Tasting Note: Tiu Paolo 2019 – Cantina Depperu – Colli del Limbara IGT Nebbiolo

  • Sardinian Wine in Numbers: A Closer Look at the Main Varieties

    In a previous post, I provided an overview of Sardinia’s wine production in terms of volumes and quality, offering some broader context within Italy and Europe. However, there is much more to say about Sardinia’s wines from a quantitative perspective — and as a numbers geek, I can’t resist delving deeper into the data. In…

    Read more: Sardinian Wine in Numbers: A Closer Look at the Main Varieties

  • Beyond Wine: Mirto – The Spirit of Sardinia

    A Broader Look at Sardinian Traditions. Although Wine of Sardinia is mainly devoted to wine in all its cultural and sensory richness, Sardinia’s drinking traditions extend far beyond the vineyard. The same deep connection between land, plants, and people that shapes the island’s wines can also be found in its liqueurs. Among them, none embodies…

    Read more: Beyond Wine: Mirto – The Spirit of Sardinia

  • Tasting Note Comparison: Two Expressions of Vernaccia di Oristano — Silvio Carta Riserva 2008 vs. Attilio Contini Flor 2007

    Two aged expressions of Sardinia’s iconic Vernaccia di Oristano — Silvio Carta’s rich, oxidative Riserva 2008 and Attilio Contini’s elegant, saline Flor 2007. With this post, I’d like to explore two remarkable expressions of Vernaccia di Oristano — a wine that embodies the depth and complexity of Sardinia’s winemaking heritage. Both wines come from iconic…

    Read more: Tasting Note Comparison: Two Expressions of Vernaccia di Oristano — Silvio Carta Riserva 2008 vs. Attilio Contini Flor 2007

  • Tasting Note: Anastasìa Brut N.M. – Cantina di Mogoro – Semidano

    Today’s tasting note focuses on Anastasìa Brut, a fine example of the growing wave of sparkling wines emerging across Sardinia. Reflecting a global trend, sparkling wine production on the island—traditionally known for its still wines—is steadily increasing, along with the experience of local winemakers and the quality of their creations. Anastasìa Brut is produced by…

    Read more: Tasting Note: Anastasìa Brut N.M. – Cantina di Mogoro – Semidano

  • Sardinian Wine in Numbers: A Primer

    A blog on wine should naturally focus on the fermented grape juice itself. Yet, a numbers enthusiast like me can’t resist bringing in a few statistics. Data, after all, provide context: they help us understand where Sardinia stands within Italy’s and Europe’s broader wine landscapes, what types of wines dominate, and how production is evolving…

    Read more: Sardinian Wine in Numbers: A Primer

  • Tasting note – Terre Vulcaniche 2020 – Vitivinicola Montiferru – Cannonau di Sardegna DOC

    Terre Vulcaniche 2020 is a varietal red wine made from Cannonau (Grenache) grapes by Vitivinicola Montiferru, a small cooperative founded in 2007 in Santu Lussurgiu, in central-west Sardinia. I picked up this bottle on my latest trip to Sardinia, and it turned out to be a fascinating encounter with a very distinctive terroir. The grapes…

    Read more: Tasting note – Terre Vulcaniche 2020 – Vitivinicola Montiferru – Cannonau di Sardegna DOC

  • Cannonau: Sardinia’s red passion

    Cannonau is the Sardinian red grape variety par excellence. With almost 27% of total plantings, it is by far the most cultivated variety on the island and contributes to several of Sardinia’s most well-known wines. However, despite being Sardinia’s signature red, Cannonau is not unique to the island. It is in fact genetically the same…

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  • Tasting note – Juighissa 2013 – Cantina del Rimedio – Vernaccia di Oristano Superiore

    Juighissa 2013: Sardinia’s Answer to Amontillado Juighissa 2013 is the second wine in the premium line of Vernaccia di Oristano DOC from Cantina del Rimedio (also known as Cantina della Vernaccia), and of course, it is a 100% varietal Vernaccia di Oristano. This is a truly unique oxidative wine produced only in Sardinia (I describe…

    Read more: Tasting note – Juighissa 2013 – Cantina del Rimedio – Vernaccia di Oristano Superiore

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