Vernaccia

Ancient and noble grape variety present in Sardinia since the time of the Phoenicians, who introduced it in the coastal area of ??Oristano, where, in the Sinai Peninsula, founded the ancient port of Tharros. By the time its cultivation has remained limited almost exclusively to the Province of Oristano, where, raised largely yet sapling Latin prefers the lowlands, derived from the ancient and recent floods of the Tirso and Rio Mannu. The name of this variety would be attributed to the Romans and would indicate a grape "vernacula" that is a grape of the place. This would explain the presence in other Italian wine-growing areas, "vernacce" entirely dissimilar to that of Sardinia. This superb wine, the pride of Sardinian oenology, owes its peculiarity to an oxidative maturation of at least 3-4 years in barrels partially filled, oak or chestnut. The presence of oxygen promotes the rise of yeast on the surface of the wine, creating a characteristic veil called "flor", which helps to form the typical aroma of Vernaccia defined with the old dialect word "Murrai". This particular refinement happens often, even today, in the traditional "cellars" Oristano straw and mud from the characteristic roof tiles resting on trellis. Already in 800 the Cettolini wrote of Vernaccia: "... is to be judged by the senses ... is its worth aroma; was the delicacy of her with that conquest; is that curious fruit flavor, slightly bitter, full of grace that there never tired, even seduces you ... "This poetic description is well suited to Vernaccia wine, dry wine with a unique personality revealed in all its original sensory expressions such as hot shades of amber color, complex and ethereal maderizzanti scents of dried fruit, almond blossom and bitter honey that are amplified on the palate in a long and extraordinary persistence. In addition to the DOC Vernaccia di Oristano, the first Denomination recognized in Sardinia in 1971, this typical vine, you also get a young white wine that is marketed as IGT "Valle del Tirso".