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WINES OF SOUTHERN ITALY
Sardegna
Initially settled by the Phoenicians—who established the important city of Cagliari—Sardegna served
as one of the main granaries for the Roman Empire. Still, the area was able to maintain much of its
independence and following the fall of the Roman Empire, it eventually became its own kingdom. Over
time, Sardegna joined with the Kingdom of Piemonte. Eventually, this alliance led to the Kingdom of
Italy, which became the state of Modern Italy.
Largely viewed as quaintly rural, Sardegna has managed to maintain much of its culture. Being an
island, it evolved differently than mainland Italy. The traditional music of Sardegna is considered one
of the oldest surviving music styles in the world, and, as evidence, UNESCO awarded it protection in
2005. With beaches a-plenty, many inhabitants spend their free hours trekking along the sea while
bronzing under the sun.
Sardegna is known for its local adaptations of international varieties. Cannonau (the local word for
Grenache) and Carignano (Carignane) wind their way into most of the red wines from the region.
The island’s sole DOCG is for Vermentino di Gallura, which is one of Italy’s finest examples of the
Vermentino grape. It is at once mineralic with a hint of sea breeze, making it a nearly perfect pairing
for shellfish and rock lobster.