Discover the Wines of Sardinia

One of the few places I haven’t visited in Italy is the island of Sardinia; it’s definitely on my short list of places to go. I’ve discussed the island with several friends from Italy and everyone speaks very highly of the island and it’s magical beauty, pristine beaches and the unspoiled landscape. The passion for Sardinia shared by Italians fuels my drive to visit the island in the near future. The fact that sheep more than double the population of people on the island is intriguing in itself. I’m told that the local cuisine is wonderful, with an emphasis on seafood caught in the pristine waters off shore, along with excellent lamb preparations, suckling pig and wonderful cheeses.

I was quite surprised at the wine produced on Sardinia, I tend to overlook the fact that Italy has over seventeen hundred grape varieties, and focus on the more famous wine producing regions such as Tuscany. The more time I spend in Italy, the more my wine focus shifts toward the lesser known wine producing regions. In the past several years, I’ve been introduced to several wine producers in Sardinia. My most recent was Sella and Mosca, considered one of Sardinia’s premier wine estates. Until recently, the only wine I’ve ever tasted from Sella and Mosca was their La Cala Vermentino, which pairs well with shellfish and local seafood. I didn’t realize that the majority of the wine produced at Sella and Mosca was red.

Sella and Mosca produce a world-class cabernet sauvignon, called Marchese di Villamarina, a single vineyard cabernet with over five three glass awards from Gambero Rosso. I do enjoy drinking Cabernet. The allure for me to Sardinian wine has been the local wine produced from the Cannonau grape. In certain years, Sella and Mosca produce Cannonau di Sardegna Riserva, a special version of the Cannonau produced yearly. What makes this wine special is the rich ruby color, with a sort of strawberry jammy nose and a very well rounded, and ripe finish. This wine pairs well with roasted or grilled meats, hearty pasta and risotto dishes. Unlike most Riserva wines, which tend to cost an arm and a leg, this wine is quite reasonable in price. The 2005 vintage is drinking really well at this time and has been one of the true gems I’ve discovered this season. I am proud to introduce this wine to Varano’s as our monthly special, we will be featuring it all month and are sure to add it to our list for the future.

It’s a good thing we built our new wine cellar this year, the best part of having a cellar is filling it. The fun part is sharing all the gems with your customers. Our goal is to continuously upgrade our wine program, introducing new wines from different regions of Italy. The satisfaction for me is how well these wines have been received by our customers. Summer may be winding down, but for me fall on the coast is the nicest time of the year, the weather is perfect for walking the beach, antiquing and kicking back with a great bottle of wine and some amazing food to pair it with. Come on in and enjoy the best Italian Food on the Seacoast and ask for some Cannonau Di Sardegna Riserva, you won’t believe your good fortune.

Dick Varano