Sardegna Flashcards
How long has vine and wine been produced in Sardegna?
since 1500BC
What is the predominant topography in Sardegna?
hills
Which side of sardegna is more mountainous and which side is more hilly?
Eastern side is more mountainous
Western side is more hilly
What is the important river in Sardegna?
Tirso
Describe the climate of Sardegna
Mediterranean, with less influence in the mountainous areas
Very windy, strong maestrale wind moderates summer temps
Cooler in the north, hotter in the south
South receives the lowest rainfall, mountainous areas receive the most
In what area of Sardegna would you find metamorphic and igneous rock(granite)?
in the northeastern corner(gallura) and in the east-central part of the island (oliena, capo ferrato)
In what area of Sardegna would you find callcareous clay and sandstone?
in the northwest around sassari
In what area of Sardegna would you find sandy soils of marine origin?
in the southwestern corner (Sulcis)
In what area of Sardegna would you find alluvial soils?
found on the large campidano plain as well as on the coastal plains around alghero, oristano and sulcis
Sardegna is more than 60% white or red?
red
What is the most widely planted grape in sardegna?
Cannonau
Do international varieties make up the majority of plantings in sardegna?
No, there are barely used, mostly for IGT wines
How did Cannonau(Grenache) arrive in Sardegna?
Brought to sardinia under spanish rule
what two areas of sardegna have the most plantings of cannonau?
Stronghold is the province of Nuoro and also widely planted in sassari
Half of sardnegna’s cannonau is planted in what area?
Nuoro
What are the vineyard characteristics of Cannonau?
Resistant to drought
Late-budding
Mid-late ripening
Performs well in warm, dry conditions and in granitic soils, where is can produce high sugar whilst maintaining medium acid
What are the important structural charcteristics of cannonau?
full body and high alcohol
What is cannonau called in toscana and central and southern italy?
Alicante
What is cannonau called in veneto?
Tocai rosso
What is cannonau called in Umbria?
gamay del trasimeno or gamay perugino
Why was Monica the source of boring neutral wines in the 20th century?
It was produced at very high yields
What can be done to monica in the vineyard to improve the quality of the wine?
restricting yields
What grape is sometimes called ‘uva di spagna’
Carignano
How did Carignano arrive in Sardegna?
most likely from spanish rule
Where are most of the plantings of Carignano located in Sardegna?
Sulcis
What are the vineyard characteristics of Carignano?
Late-budding and late-ripening
Needs heat to fully ripen and prefers warm, dry conditions
Vigorous
resistant to drought and winds
Prone to powdery mildew
What are the structural characteristics of the Carignano?
Deep colour, high acid and tannin
Where do the best vermentinos come from in Sardegna?
From the granitic soils of Gallura
what are the vine characteristics of vermentino?
Thrives in warm sunny climates and does well near the sea
Resistant to wind and drought
early-budding and mid-ripening
What are the structural characteristics of Vermentino?
Full bodied, high alcohol and high acid
where are most of the plantings of Malvasia di Sardegna located?
Plantings are concentrated around Bosa and Cagliari
What are the training methods used in Sardegna?
Most are guyot
Alberrello is still widely used in Gallura, Mandrolisai and Sulcis
Both vermentino di Sardenga and Cannonau di Sardegna DOC’s cover what area of the island?
cover the entire island
Describe the range of styles of Cannonau di Sardegna DOC
Ranges from light and approachable to powerful and muscular
Is Cannonau di Sardegna DOC 100% cannonau?
no, 85% min
What are the ageing vessels typically used in Cannonau di Sardegna DOC?
small barrels and botti are used
Cannonau di Sardegna DOC can be classico if it comes from either of these 2 regions?
nuoro province or ogliastra sub-region
Is Vermentino di Sardegna DOC 100% vermentino?
no, 85% min
Is Monica di Sardegna DOC 100% monica?
No, 85% min
What are the important strucutral characteristics of Monica?
medium-high acid, medium-high alcohol
what is Sardegna’s only DOCG?
Vermentino di Gallura
what DOCG is located in Gallura in the northeastern corner of Sardegna?
Vermentino di Gallura DOCG
What is the climate of Vermentino di Gallura DOCG
Coast is mediterranean
Inland is at higher elevation and thus more continental with a higher diurnal range
What is the soil of Gallura?
Grey and pink Granite
what soil type is ideal for Vermentino and why?
Granite, Ideal because it restricts yields
What problem does the granitic soil of gallura pose to grape growing?
Very free draining, irrigation is needed during the dry spells
Is Vermentino di Gallura DOCG 100% vermentino?
no, min 95%
Vermentino di Gallura DOCG is usually vinified in what type of vessel?
stainless steel
What is the only DOC to produce varietal Cagnulari and Torbato?
Alghero DOC
What DOC is located On the alluvial coastal plains and low hills around the town of alghero in the province of sassari
Alghero DOC
Which is the only doc in sardegna that allows for international varieties to be varietals wines or as the backbone of blends?
Alghero DOC
What are the 4 international varieties produced in Alghero DOC?
Cab Sav, merlot, sauvignon blanc and chardonnay
In Alghero DOC, what three wines can be produced from any of the permitted varieties?
Rosso
Bianco
Rosato
What doc is located in the southwest corner of the island in the geographic sub-region of sulcis?
Carignano del Sulcis DOC
What is the climate of Carignano del Sulcis DOC?
Warm and hot, moderated by Maestrale
Describe the soils of Carignano del Sulcis DOC
Soils near the sea and on the islands are high in sand, inland areas are a clay/sand mix
Why is old vine Carignano common in Sulcis?
Old vine alberello is common due to the sandy soils which stopped phylloxera
Is Carignano del Sulcis DOC 100% carignano?
no min 85%
In Carignano del Sulcis DOC, what is the grape traditionally blended with cariginano, if done so?
Bovale
What is the vineyard technique required for Carignano del Sulcis DOC Superiore?
must be exclusively alberello trained
What vessel is Carignano del Sulcis DOC commonly matured in?
small oak and/or botti
what was Sardegna’s first DOC?
Vernaccia di Oristano DOC
Which Sardinian DOC has its vineyards predominantly planted on the sandy, clays of the alluvial plan along the tirso river?
Vernaccia di Oristano DOC
Which Sardinian DOC must be 100% of its stated variety?
Vernaccia di Oristano
What is the min abv of Vernaccia di Oristano DOC?
15%
describe the process of Vernaccia di Oristano DOC
During march of the year following harvest, wine is transferred to barrels that are filled to max 80% volume, for a minimum of 2 years
Barrels are stored in well-ventilated rooms so they are subject to seasonal temperature fluctuations
Flor develops
Solera system is used on the longer aged, more complex bottlings
T or f: vernaccia di oristano is fortified like sherry
false,
What important DOC is located in the west-central coast of sardegna?
Malvasia di Bosa
What are the soils of Malvasia di Bosa?
White calcareous soils, rich in marine fossils atop a volcanic subsoil
is it required to be 100% Malvasia di Sardegna in Malvasia di Bosa DOC
no, 95% min
What is the sweetness of Malvasia di Bosa DOC?
medium-sweet to sweet
What is Malvasia di Bosa DOC usually vinified in?
stainless steel
Which versions of Malvasia di Bosa DOC must be aged?
the riserva, basic level does not need to be aged
What are the differences between Malvasia di Bosa DOC and Malvasia di Bosa RIserva DOC?
RIserva is aged and is usually dry
flor may also be allowed to develop in the barrel during ageing but it is not required
What is the iconic producer of Malvasia di Bosa?
Colombu
what is the important IGT of Sardegna?
Isola dei Nuraghi IGT
