The history of winemaking in Sardinia has ancient roots. Vines were already being cultivated in Nuragic times, thanks to the extraordinary environmental and climatic conditions of the island, and Sardinian wine began to be exported throughout the Mediterranean basin thanks to the Phoenicians.
Much appreciated at Roman banquets, after a period of abandonment of the countryside following the barbarian invasions, production resumed in the Middle Ages, with regulations codified by the ‘Carte de Logo’ promulgated by Eleonora d’Arborea. An uninterrupted growth during the period of Spanish domination and which, at the end of the 19th century, brought Sardinia to have over eighty thousand hectares of vineyards, now down to 27 thousand.
The combination of a favourable climate, constant sea winds and a wide biodiversity of soils makes it possible to grow different grapes and produce wines with unique organoleptic characteristics that are identified with the area of origin. The most widely grown vines are Cannonau and Vermentino, which have become an integral part of the island’s identity: the former is grown mainly in the Nuoro and Ogliastra areas, while the latter has made Gallura its chosen land.
In addition to these two main varieties, which are present in almost all of Sardinia, there are others that are more localised in specific areas: Monica, Torbato, Cagnulari, Carignano, Bovale, Moscato, Nuragus, Semidano, Malvasia and Vernaccia. The Sardinian production is capable of offering a very wide range of wines, from sparkling wines to white wines, from rosé wines to red wines, to sweet and liqueur wines.
Among the numerous Sardinian wineries, which every year make a name for themselves at national and international level by winning prizes and awards, a special mention goes to a particularly popular winery in northern Sardinia: Cantina Surrau. Founded in 2001 with the aim of offering a product of great authenticity and quality, the 53 hectares of vineyards dominate the valley of Arzachena in the enchanting stretch of road leading to the Costa Smeralda and its heavenly beaches. A meeting between the modern concept of tourism and the tradition of wine production in this young but already established company, which has made transparency and diversification its strong points. A sustainable and green structure, open to visits by those who want to discover the secrets of a production that ranges from Cannonau to Carignano, from Muristellu (Bovale) to Cabernet Sauvignon, up to the proposal of Vermentino, ambassador of Gallura, with the bottle Sciala Vermentino di Gallura (2018) awarded with Tre Bicchieri Gambero Rosso at Vini d’Italia 2020.
The love of wine and the care taken in its production have become deeply rooted in the culture of Sardinia, which has always welcomed those who approach the island’s ancient wine heritage for the first time with a smile and a glass generously filled.