Study / Region guides
Sardinia (Sardegna)
1 DOCG and 17 DOCs. Examined in Unit 2: Central and Southern Italy.
- Borders
- Sicily, Tuscany, Liguria
- Wine provinces
- Oristano, Sud Sardegna, Cagliari, Sassari, Nuoro
The land
Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean and lies closer to Corsica than to the Italian mainland.
Gallura in the northeast is granite. Sulcis in the southwest is sand. The Campidano plain runs across the south. The maestrale, a strong northwest wind, keeps the vines dry and healthy.
The grapes
Cannonau is Grenache and Carignano is Carignan. Vermentino is the main white. Monica, Bovale and Nuragus are the local grapes you will meet on labels.
Which grape leads which appellation
- Moscato Bianco 2
- Moscato di Sardegna, Moscato di Sorso-Sennori
- Vermentino 2
- Vermentino di Gallura, Vermentino di Sardegna
- Bovale Sardo 1
- Mandrolisai
- Cannonau 1
- Cannonau di Sardegna
- Carignano 1
- Carignano del Sulcis
- Girò 1
- Girò di Cagliari
- Malvasia di Sardegna 1
- Malvasia di Bosa
- Monica 1
- Monica di Sardegna
In the vineyard and cellar
Vernaccia di Oristano is aged in part filled barrels under flor, like a Sherry. Old ungrafted bush vines of Carignano grow in the sand of Sulcis.
History and trade
Four centuries of Aragonese and Spanish rule left their mark on the grapes. Cooperatives were the backbone of the trade for most of the 20th century.
The DOCGs
Oldest first. The year is when each one became a DOCG.
| Appellation | DOCG since | Grapes | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermentino di Gallura | 1996 | Vermentino (min 95%) | Sassari |
The DOCs
| Appellation | DOC since | Grapes | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alghero | 1995 | Torbato, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cagnulari, Sangiovese, Vermentino, Chardonnay | Sassari |
| Arborea | 1987 | Sangiovese, Trebbiano Toscano, Trebbiano Romagnolo | Oristano |
| Cagliari | Malvasia di Sardegna, Moscato Bianco, Monica, Nuragus, Vermentino | Cagliari, Sud Sardegna | |
| Campidano di Terralba (Terralba) | 1975 | Bovale Sardo, Bovale Grande (min 85% combined), Pascale, Greco Nero, Monica | Oristano, Sud Sardegna |
| Cannonau di Sardegna | 1972 | Cannonau (Grenache, min 85%) | Whole island; subzones Jerzu, Oliena (Nepente di Oliena), Capo Ferrato |
| Carignano del Sulcis | 1977 | Carignano (min 85%) | Sulcis, southwestern Sardinia, including Sant'Antioco and San Pietro islands |
| Girò di Cagliari | 1972 | Girò (min 95%) | Cagliari, Sud Sardegna |
| Malvasia di Bosa | 1972 | Malvasia di Sardegna (min 95%) | Oristano |
| Mandrolisai | 1981 | Bovale Sardo (min 35%), Cannonau (20 to 35%), Monica (20 to 35%) | Nuoro |
| Monica di Sardegna | 1972 | Monica (min 85%) | Whole island |
| Moscato di Sardegna | 1979 | Moscato Bianco (min 90%) | Whole island; subzones Tempio Pausania and Gallura |
| Moscato di Sorso-Sennori | 1972 | Moscato Bianco (min 95%) | Sorso and Sennori, Romangia hills north of Sassari |
| Nasco di Cagliari | 1972 | Nasco (min 95%) | Cagliari, Sud Sardegna |
| Nuragus di Cagliari | 1975 | Nuragus (min 85%) | Oristano |
| Sardegna Semidano | 1995 | Semidano (min 85%) | Oristano |
| Vermentino di Sardegna | 1988 | Vermentino (min 85%) | Whole island |
| Vernaccia di Oristano | 1971 | Vernaccia di Oristano (100%) | Lower Tirso valley around Oristano, west coast |
Facts that get tested
The kind of thing an exam asks about Sardinia. Cover the answers and try them.
Vermentino di Gallura grows on which soil?
Decomposed granite. Gallura is the windy northeast corner of the island. It is Sardinia's only DOCG.
What is distinctive about the vineyards of Carignano del Sulcis?
Old ungrafted bush vines on sand. Phylloxera cannot live in the sandy soils of the southwest, so many vines grow on their own roots.
Vernaccia di Oristano is aged
Under a film of flor yeast, like Sherry. The barrels are left partly empty and the flor gives nutty, oxidative flavours. It was Sardinia's first DOC, in 1971.
Grapes such as Cannonau and Carignano are tied to Sardinia's long rule by which power?
Aragon and Spain. The island was under Aragonese and then Spanish rule for about four centuries. Cannonau is Grenache and Carignano is Carignan.
Mandrolisai, from the centre of Sardinia, is a blend of
Bovale, Cannonau and Monica. Bovale Sardo leads the blend. It comes from hill vineyards in the provinces of Nuoro and Oristano.
Nuragus di Cagliari is
A light white from the Campidano plain. The grape is thought to be named after the nuraghi, the island's Bronze Age stone towers.
Think you've got it?
Twenty questions on Sardinia, with every wrong answer drawn from the region and its neighbours.
Quiz me on Sardinia