Sardinia, located 240 km off the west coast of mainland Italy, is the second largest island in the Mediterranean. With an area of about 9,300 square miles, it is almost three times the Size of Corsica, its immediate neighbor to the North, and only slightly smaller than the other major Italian island, Sicily. The island, called Sardegna by its Italian-speaking inhabitants, has belonged to various empires and kingdoms over the centuries. This is reflected in its place names, architecture, languages and dialects, and its unique portfolio of wine grapes.
Since the mid-18th century, Sardinia has been one of Italy's five autonomous regions (the others being Sicily, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Trentino-Alto Adige, and Valle d'Aosta), but its separation from the mainland has given rise to a culture and identity somewhat removed from the Italian mainstream. This is reflected in Sardinia's relationship with wine. Wine is much less culturally and historically rooted here than in mainland regions, and large-scale wine production and consumption have only developed in recent centuries. The portfolio of varieties planted in Sardinian vineyards bears little resemblance to that of other Italian wine regions.
The vermentino grape variety was widespread in Italy, Sardinia and Corsica. Today, Vermentino is grown in the regions bordering the Mediterranean, mainly in Provence (Côtes de Provence, Bellet), Corsica (Corse Calvi), Languedoc (Côtes du Roussillon, Costières de Nîmes) and the Rhône Valley (Côtes du Luberon). Because it ripens late, Vermentino requires a warm climate for its development and can only be grown in regions with good sun exposure. Conversely, cold or temperate climates do not allow it to ripen properly. Vermentino is only susceptible to powdery mildew. When vinified on its own, Vermentino produces a single-variety dry white wine that is light and full-bodied with a pale yellow color. It can also be blended with other grape varieties such as Ugni Blanc, Cinsault and Grenache, in which case its low acidity makes it light and fresh. Vermentino belongs to the grape varieties of Ajaccio, Corsica and Corbières. The aromas released by this variety are multiple. One can detect notes of fresh apple, green almond, sweet spices, hawthorn, ripe pear and fresh pineapple.
white wines from the region of Sardaigne go well with generally quite well with dishes of shellfish, vegetarian or appetizers and snacks such as recipes of fondue with lao sukiyaki sauce (laos), quiche with leeks and fresh salmon from flo or stuffed sea almonds with cream cheese.
On the nose in the region of Sardaigne often reveals types of flavors of citrus, tree fruit or citrus fruit and sometimes also flavors of earth, tropical fruit or microbio. In the mouth in the region of Sardaigne is a powerful.
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