Wines and spirits Sardinia

Cantina Contini is an institution in Sardinia: you can't leave the island without visiting it. Proud of its traditions and origins, the estate is nonetheless a forward-looking enterprise, whose wines regularly win awards. The wines are subtle and refined... fascinating! You're in the kingdom of Vernaccia, the grape variety from which a famous oxidative wine is made, a Petit Futé favorite. The emotion continues when you visit the century-old tuns. A unique place, a magical moment.

Vini, liquori e spiriti di Sardegna. Spirit of Sardinia, rather. Silvio Carta is a man who does not leave anyone indifferent and the wines he produces are in his image: refined and gourmet. The estate is almost a hundred years old and the work pays off: awards rain down on this estate which, without sacrificing quality, has played the card of modernity and diversity. But we are here to taste the famous Vernaccia, an oxidative white wine whose most precious ingredient is the time spent aging in the barrel which reveals the power and complexity of this wine.

The Alghero region may not be the one where the best wines are made in Sardinia, but it is the one that has always known how to sell them best. This guided tour will be an opportunity to discover the history of the Sella e Mosca estate, founded in 1899. A film is shown before the visit to the cellars with a sommelier who explains the winemaking process. After a visit to the Museum of Archaeology, which also traces the history of the Sardinian vineyards, a spumante from the estate will be tasted while nibbling on Carasau bread.

The Capichera estate is an oenological institution in Sardinia. The Ragnedda family has been leading a policy of research and development of the island's indigenous grape varieties for over 40 years. The result is notorious: the wines from here have a strong character. Of great gustatory quality, they are the fruit of a maturation in barrels that can last up to twenty years. Whether you are a wine lover or not, a visit here is a must, if only to admire the landscape surrounding the cellars and vineyards.

This family estate was founded in the 1930s by the great-grandfather and is now run by the Pozzatti brothers who insist on tradition at the heart of their modern philosophy. The vineyards are located in Santa Maria La Palma, in the plain of Nurra, a few kilometers from the Gulf of Alghero. The wines are declined in the 3 colors and in grappa. The detailed visits, by appointment, are not free of charge but they are worth the detour: you follow the path that leads from the wine to the bottle to finish with a tasting accompanied by typical dishes.

It all began in 2009 when Roberto landed on the island and founded Sant'Andre, which at the time was dedicated to fruit and vegetable production. In 2019, Roberto's passion for vineyards became his profession. Today, all vegetable, fruit, olive and vine production is carried out without chemical inputs, to allow the soil and the plant to express themselves freely. More than a wine, Roberto's wines are a way of life, a philosophy based on love of the land and the Sulcis region. We love them without moderation!

A small producer of organic wine who invites you to discover his cellar and his vineyards of altitude (400 m) which undulate on the limestone hills between Jerzu and Ulassai. You would think you were in a Languedoc estate. We immediately liked Giovanni's welcome, with his way of telling you with love and passion his job while rolling the nectar in a glass. After leaving the cooperative cellar, Giovanni created his own family estate and converted to organic a few years ago. His canonau vintages are a real delight, regularly awarded.

Opened in 1960, this winery placed the Carignano del Sulcis vineyards on the wine map of Sardinia. With the 1984 vintage was born the island's first barrel-matured red, the Santadi Terre Brune, with a velvety palate and notes of red fruit (plum, blueberry), tobacco and chocolate. The guided tour of the cellars will allow you to discover a wide range of wines: wines of excellence, including several award-winning wines, vin de garde or table wine and even sparkling wine and grappa. The cellar will make sure to accompany all your desires. Visits and tastings on reservation.

This winery has been in existence since 1956. With many years of experience acquired and passed on, Cantina Gallura produces wines of character that respect the terroir and the local grape varieties. It is the history of Sardinia that is told in the glasses. The estate is renowned for its vermentino, the only Sardinian wine protected by a DOC. With a beautiful collection of 7 different vermentino, from the small pleasure wine for the aperitif to the sparkling wine for the festive days, the estate knew how to take advantage of a white wine which can be worked in a simple or elegant way.

The Vermentino cooperative ensures a renowned production and actively participates in the fame of Gallura wines. The bottles and labels are elegant. The vermentino is of course honoured in the Funtanaliras cuvée, and more original in the late harvest version for the Arakéna cuvée. As for the reds, they are made by blending Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Cagnulari for the Galana and by using a single variety of Cannonau for the Tamara. The winery also offers a myrtle liqueur and a white or barrel-aged grappa.

The two big red blinds with hoops protect the window and the bottles of this wine cellar from the burning sun. You will be received here with a smile. The owner will guide you in your choices and help you determine which Dorgali wine best suits your palate. He also organises tastings of the best local wines. But he doesn't limit himself to the wines of the city. You can buy white vermentino from Gallura, artisanal myrtle liqueur or grappa.

The Dorgali area is ideal for growing cannonau, the Sardinian grape variety that produces delicious red wines. The Dorgali cooperative was founded in 1953 and brings together the winegrowers of the region. It covers almost 650 hectares of land in the surrounding mountains, and the grapes are always harvested by hand. The wines of this cooperative have been awarded in numerous agricultural competitions, both in Italy and abroad. The greatest pride of these men is the "Cangrande" medal awarded by the President of the Republic in 2016.

La Sabbiosa is the only certified organic estate on the island. These are small plots of less than a hectare, surrounded by Mediterranean scrub and wild plants that preserve the local biodiversity. The challenge was to produce a modern wine from an ancestral vineyard. The furniture in the cellar and reception areas is mainly made from recycled and reclaimed materials and objects. In summer, we organize sunset aperitifs and meals in the vineyards. The welcome is as warm and delicate as the wines themselves.

Nearby "Su Nuraxi", in an unchanged agricultural and pastoral landscape, lies Tenuta Olianas with its 30 ha of vineyards, whose protagonists are Sardinia's indigenous grape varieties. As if to thumb its nose at modernity, Olianas has built its reputation on tried-and-tested ancestral methods: animal traction, biodynamics and amphora aging! The wine tourism offer is vast: winegrower dinners and lunches, vineyard walks, tastings... Innovation at Olianas goes beyond organic farming with bio-integration.

This is the right place to discover bottled Sardinia. The wine merchants know the typical wines on the tip of their taste buds. They will be able to recommend you cannonau, vermentino di Gallura, vernaccia di Oristano according to the pleasure you are looking for. You can also find myrtle liqueur, brandies or local beers. A plus and not the least, the pleasant setting with its sofas and deep armchairs suitable for tasting.