Sardegna or Sardinia is a large Island that in recent years has become a popular wine region for Italy. The history of viticulture and winemaking is ancient beginning with the Phoenicians, Greeks and Phoceans, Carthaginians, then the Romans, Vandals, Byzantine Empire, Spanish Kingdom of Aragon, House of Savoy and finally unified with Italy in 1861. The indigenous peoples were the Nuraghi, who have been traced back to about 1500 BC. Remnants of this ancient culture can still be seen in the numerous stone structures that dot the landscape of the Island. Today, culturally it is bilingual with both Italian and Sardinian Sardu the two prominent local dialects. There is also the local indigenous language of Algherese Catalan, one of a dozen minority dialects spoken. The Island has over 2000km of coastline filled with sandy beaches but it has a rather mountainous interior with significant hilly landscape between the mountains and the sea. It is surrounded by two parts of the Mediterranean Sea, known as the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Sea of Sardinia. The Island is also characterized by various inlets (Rias) and bays. The Island has
numerous climatic zones due to the extended latitude and variations in both elevation and topographical contours. The more protected areas inland tend to be more continental but the majority of areas are Mediterranean with more coastally exposed areas presenting a more maritime moderated climate. Snowfall occurs in the hgher elevation which exceed 6K feet at their paek and rainfall mainly falling in Winter and Autumn but Summers are wonderfully dry. The Eastern side of the Island is drier with abot 17: of annual rainfall and the Western coast receiving nearly twice that amount. Further inland areas at elevation can receive as much as 59" but viticulture is not a significant nor viable crop in those areas. Generally speaking Summers are warm and Winters are mild with tempering influences of winds especially the Mistral sweeping in from the Northwest during Spring and Winter especially. The white wines and Rose wines are of particularly good quality and the red wines made from Cannonau (Grenache) are on an upward quality trend. The most common white wine encountered from this Island Provincia is made from the local Vermentino grape that produces a lightly aromatic, clean, crisp white wine. The majority of Vermnetino is made in a protective temperature controlled environment that emphasizes its fruit and freshness. The wines are excellent with seafood and lighter meat dishes and are a great alternative choice for fans of Pinot Grigio, Albarino, Muscadet, dry Muscat, Picpoul, Greco, Viura or Bordeaux Blanc. Cannonau is the leading red varietal as well as overall leader with 35% of the plantings to Vermentino's 28%. Cannonau is the local name for the Spanish grape Garnacha aka Grenache in French and it produces a hearty version for this grape. Other notable varieties include Carignano or Carignan, Moscato and Monica. There are also planngings of Bovale, Cabernegt Sauvignon, Carmenere, Giro, Nasco, Nuragus, Syrah, Vernaccia di Oristano and Vernaccia Nera (closely related to Garnacha) among others. The largest appellation of origin is the IGP Isola dei Nuraghi for red, white and rose wines as well as Spumante and dessert wine, that covers the entire Island. In terms of actual production the most significant AOP are Carignano di Sardegna, Vermentino di Gallura and Vermentino di Sardegna.