Page 186 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sardinia

184  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS

What to Drink in Sardinia

Grapevines first came to Sardinia from the eastern
Mediterranean, where the Phoenicians had long cultivated
vineyards. The warm climate tends to yield very ripe grapes,
which are then turned into strong, deeply coloured wines.
Lighter, fruity novellos are also worth trying. Good-quality
Sardinian wines are widely available in shops, but it also
pays to go directly to the suppliers. All types are made, from
red (rosso), white (bianco) and rosé (rosato) to rich dessert
wines. Many qualify for the status of denominazione di origine
controllata (DOC), with guaranteed provenance and quality
standards. Sardinian wines are almost always made from a
single grape variety. Perhaps the best-known is Vernaccia Old winemaking equipment, now largely
di Oristano, the first to gain DOC status in Sardinia. superseded by modern techniques

White Wines
The white wines of Sardinia
go well with fish and
seafood dishes, and some
are sturdy enough to go with
meat dishes such as pork.
Nuragus is a widely planted
Grape harvesting white grape, producing rather
neutral, soft and fruity wines.
Recommended Whites Vermentino is also widely
grown and the wines have
• Cantina Sociale della more complex flavours. Both
Riforma Agraria, Alghero Vermentino di Sardegna and
Vermentino di Sardegna Vermentino di Gallura, made
Aragosta mostly around Sassari and
• Cantina Sociale Gallura Nuoro province, tend to be
Slightly Vermentino fairly strong. There is also a
sparkling Sinis • Tenuta Sella & Mosca, sparkling version. DOC
Vernaccia Alghero Vermentino from Cala Viola
Terre Bianche and Usini is very good. The
Campidano area produces
the fruity, dry white Semidano.
Red Wines
The best-known red wine is
Cannonau, which is usually full-
bodied and strong, although
some lighter versions are made.
Most Cannonau is produced in
the province of Nuoro in eastern Cannonau
Sardinia. It goes well with roast
meat and game. Another wine grapes
to drink with game and mature
cheese is Monica di Sardegna,
a dry red with intense perfume
that should be drunk young. Recommended Reds
Less common but equally good
DOC reds are the light, dry • Azienda Giuseppe
Mandrolisai, Campidano di Cabras, Nuoro
Terralba and Carignano del Cannonau
Sulcis. Other reds, such as Tanca • Tenuta Sella & Mosca,
Farrà di Alghero and Terre Brune Alghero
del Sulcis, blend Sardinian and Anghelu Ruju
imported grape varieties. The • Attilio Contini, Cabras
most expensive Sardinian red Nieddera rosé Nieddera
wine is Turriga. and Cannonau

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.7)
Date 5th March 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm