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.
A very old variety grown in Italy, where it still plays an important role, particularly in Sardinia. - Synonyms: meragus, abbondosa, bruscu biancu, axina, garnaccia, granazza, burdu, malvasia di tura (for all the synonyms of the varieties). - Description: medium to large bunches, conical, voluminous, compact, short strong stems, often with a lignified part; medium-sized, spherical or slightly elongated berries, greenish-yellow to golden-yellow skin, sometimes amber with a pink tinge when fully ripe, soft pulp with a simple taste. - Production potential: late budding. Quite vigorous and very productive, suitable for almost all types of soil. Hardy, it resists well to the various cryptogamic diseases. Maturity: 3rd period average. - Wine type/Aromas: gives a heady wine of yellow straw color with sometimes golden reflections, provided in the majority of the cases with a good acidity.
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 festive sea pot, mushroom, bacon and gruyere quiche or peach and tuna verrine.
I first contributed to Decanter back in November 1988; the hundreds of columns and articles I’ve written since constitute a journey of discovery. I squirm, though, if I’m described as a ‘wine expert’. Whatever wine knowledge we acquire quickly cools, congeals and crusts over, like custard or gravy, as the years pass. The wine world expands at a clip. Every vintage rewrites history. It’s the chance to share discoveries – not just about wines, but about people, places and the act of drinking itsel ...
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