Sun, Sea, and Wine: Sardinia

This year, as regular readers know all too well, I'm doing a region-by- region crawl through Italian wine, drinking a red, a white, and (if I can find one) a third wine that's either a sparkler, a rose, or a dessert wine. So far I've been to Friuli-Venezia, Campania, Le Marche, Molise, and Sicily. This month, I'm off to the sunny island of Sardinia, off the western coast of Italy. (photo of Sardinia Liquid Blu by Virgi Lex Zuo)

Sardinia, like many regions of Italy, has an ancient wine-making history. As with most wine history, the details are often decidedly murky. Some of the grapes grown on Sardinia, like the white grape Nuragas, can be traced back to the ancient Phoenecians. The red Monica grape is thought to have been brought to the island by Catholic monks. Archaeologists discovered grape seeds that could be dated back to 1200 BC, making Sardinia a contender for the oldest viticultural site in Europe.

While the origins of Sardinian wine might never be fully understood, what is clear is that from the earliest times through to the present, Sardinia has been home to a thriving wine culture. From ancient times invading armies have fallen in love with the island's sweet, Sherry-like wines. Catholic monks and Spanish nobles brought vine cuttings from their native lands to plant on the island. And in the 19th century the native white Semidano grape proved resistant to the ravages of Phylloxera. Despite this long history, Sardinian wines are often dismissed by Italians on the peninsula as simple, rustic, and forgettable. (photo Drink Up by Katherine346 taken during Carnival in Cagliari)

Sardinia's reputation for simple, rustic wines is being replaced these days with a reputation for interesting varieties and great value. Viticulturally, Sardinia has a surprising amount in common with its neighbor to the west, Spain. When the Spanish occupied the island during the Medieval and Renaissance periods, they brought some of their favorite grapes with them, including several that go well with the favorite fare of the region: suckling pig. (Just because Sardinia is an island doesn't mean that it has a seafood-based diet. On the contrary, the pig is king.)

It now seems likely that Sardinia provided some important gifts to Spain in return, namely the Grenache grape that is grown on the island under the name Cannonau, and in Spain under the name Garnacha. I can't help but wonder if Sardinia is poised to become Europe's next region that is known for great value. (Almost Cannonau by Valerius25)

Stay tuned to see what the tastings reveal as I explore the wines of Sardinia. If you have wine suggestions please share them in the comments below, and I'll do my best to find them and give them a try. As with most of these Italian regions, I'm on a steep learning curve and can use all the help I can get.