Sardegna - Grapes

Question 1

Which area of Sardegna the red variety Cagnulari is almost exclusive to?

Answer 1

The Sassari province in northwest Sardegna.

Question 2

This red grape variety thought to be brought to Sardegna from Spain is traditionally called “Uva di Spagna” (grape of Spain) by Sardinian growers.

Answer 2

Carignano(!)

Question 3

Which area of Sardegna Carignano is widely cultivated?

Answer 3

The sunny coastal areas of the Sulcis sub-region as it prefers warm dry conditions.

Question 4

What Spanish grape variety Sardegna’s Cannonau is identical to?

Answer 4

Garnacha (Grenache) - assumed it was brought to Sardegna when the island was under Spanish rule.

Question 5

This white grape variety has been present in Sardegna for centuries. Plantings are particularly concentrated around Bosa and Cagliari.

DNA analysis suggests it is genetically identical to Malvasia di Lipari and Calabria’s Greco Bianco.

Answer 5

Malvasia di Sardegna (Malvasia di Lipari)(!)

Question 6

This ancient native grape is the second most widely planted white (after Vermentino) and most plantings are located in central and southern Sardegna.

The wine is best consumed young.

Answer 6

Nuragus

Question 7

What is now considered a traditional grape of Gallura but was brought to Sardegna in the 18th century during the rule of the House of Savoy?

Answer 7

Nebbiolo

Question 8

What two grapes, one in Piemonte and the other in Liguria, are genetically identical to Vermentino in Sardegna?

Answer 8

• Favorita in Piemonte
• Pigato in Liguria

Question 9

This white grape variety produces “sherry-like” wine although its dominant style is not fortified. These wines are intense, complex and very long lived.

Answer 9

Vernaccia di Oristano(!)

Question 10

List attributes (5) of Cannonau

Answer 10

• Resistant to drought
• late budding, mid to late ripening
• Performs well in warm, dry conditions
• Performs well in granitic soils
• Full in body and high in alcohol

Question 11

White grape variety Semidano was largely replaced after phylloxera plague.

Which grape variety mostly replaced Semidano as it is more resistant and productive?

Answer 11

Nuragus

Question 12

What are two unrelated varieties of Bovale?

Answer 12

• Bovale Sardo (aka Bovaleddu or simply Bovale)
• Bovale Grande (or Bovale di Spagna)

Question 13

True or False

There are more than twenty grape varieties specific and unique to Sardegna have been registered in the National Registry of Grapes.

Answer 13

True

Question 14

True or False

International grapes are less relevant in Sardegna.

Answer 14

True

Less than 3%

Question 15

Bovale Sardo is the more important and widesread of two Bovale varieties with its deep color, high in acid, tannin and extract.

What Spanish grape it may be genetically identical to?

Answer 15

Graciano

Question 16

Which DOC Cannonau is largely bottled under in Sardegna?

Answer 16

Cannonau di Sardegna DOC - regional DOC

Question 17

What percentage occupies Sardegna’s total area under vine?

Answer 17

60%

Question 18

What grape variety is Sardegna’s most widely planted grape and it is the island’s flagship red variety?

Answer 18

Cannonau(!)

Question 19

According to DNA studies, what grape variety is Bovale Grande is genetically identical to?

Answer 19

Carignano

Question 20

True or False

Sardegna’s signature grapes the red Cannonau and the white Vementino account for more than 20% of total plantings.

Answer 20

False

More than 40%

Question 21

Carignano wines are deep in color and quite high in acidity and tannin. What is it distinct about the best examples of Carignano wine in Sardegna?

Answer 21

It is defined by a distinctive velvety-cream mouthfeel.

Question 22

True or False

Red wines account for more than half of the total production in Sardegna.

Answer 22

True

Question 23

Historically known to produce elegant, sweet dessert and fortified wines, the plantings of this red grape variety remain small and are mostly concentrated in the southern part of the island.

Answer 23

Giro

Question 24

True or False

Vernaccia di Oristano is related to Toscana’s Vernaccia di San Gimignano and Marche’s Vernaccia Nera.

Answer 24

False

It is a distinct variety unrelated to other Vernaccia grapes.

Question 25

This red variety is considered a traditional grape of Sardegna and is identical to Spain’s Carinena (Mazuelo), also known as Carignan in France.

Answer 25

Carignano(!)

Question 26

True or False

Vementino can develop flinty-smoky notes with age.

Answer 26

True

Question 27

This ancient red grape variety of unknown origin is one of the most widely planted red grapes on Sardegna.

During the 20th century, its unchecked yields resulted in simple light table wines for immediate consumption.

Answer 27

Monica(!)

Question 28

This white grape variety is one of the most ancient native grapes in Sardegna and mostly grown on the coastal and inland areas around Cagliari.

The plantings have been limited because its principal use is for the production of sweet or fortified wine.

Answer 28

Nasco

The name derives from local dialect meaning musk.

Question 29

Which area of Sardegna Cannonau is mostly planted?

Answer 29

In the northern province of Nuoro, in the east-central part of the island.

Half of Sardegna’s Cannonau is planted here.

Question 30

True or False

Vermentino in Sardegna does well near the sea.

Answer 30

True

Question 31

This ancient Sardinian grape produces a unique oxidative style of wine. It is almost exclusively grown in its native area - the central portion of Sardegna’s western coast along the banks of the lower Tirso River as the grape thrives in the area’s warm climate and alluvial soils.

Answer 31

Vernaccia di Oristano(!)

Question 32

This aromatic grape is Sardegna’s flagship white variety.

It is considered to produce its best, most mineral expression on the granitic soils of Gallura.

Answer 32

Vermentino(!)

Question 33

Name three Synonyms of Cannonau.

Answer 33

1. Alicante: Used in Toscana and other parts of central and southern Italy
2. Tocai Rosso - Veneto (aka Tai Rosso) Colli Berici
3. Gamay del Trasimeno or Gamey Perugino - Umbria in the area around Lake Trasimeno