The Best Wines of Sardinia
Sardinian winemaking is dominated by three grape varieties that couldn't be more different: a salty white wine from the north, a robust red from the interior, and a fruity red from the southwest.
Vermentino di Gallura – the white wine of the north
Grown inland from Olbia in the Gallura region, Vermentino di Gallura is Sardinia's only wine with DOCG status – Italy's highest quality classification. It's fresh, citrusy, and carries a slightly salty, coastal note. Ideal with fish, seafood, or as an aperitif.
Cannonau – the island's red wine
Sardinia's most widely planted red grape, concentrated inland around Nuoro and the Barbagia. Cannonau delivers ripe fruit, herbal spice, and a warm, robust structure. The wine is also often linked to the exceptional longevity of the population in the Barbagia – one of the world's recognized "Blue Zones" (see our article on the Barbagia Blue Zone).
Carignano del Sulcis – the red wine of the southwest
In the Sulcis, in the island's southwest, Carignano vines grow directly in sandy soil near the sea – some of the vines are among the oldest ungrafted vineyards in Europe. The result: wines with intense aromas of ripe plum, dark chocolate, and spice.
Other varieties worth a look
- Monica – a lighter, fruity red for everyday drinking.
- Bovale – robust and tannic, rarely found outside the island.
- Nasco and Malvasia – traditional, often sweet wines, good with desserts like seadas.