Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
known as Malvosie à Petits Grains or Rolle in
southern Spain and France), Cannonao (actu-
ally Grenache or Garnacha, the world's second
most-planted wine grape), and Carignano (Car-
ignan in France, or Mazuelo in Spain), the last
of which does remarkably well in some parts of
the island, including Sulcis in the southwest.
White varieties original to Sardinia probably
include Nuragus, Nasco, Semidano, and Ver-
naccia di Oristano. There are many more little-
known varieties that await discovery, and oth-
ers that deserve to be better characterized in all
their viticultural and enologic potential. In a
recent presentation at the Fourth National Con-
gress on Viticulture, held in Asti on July 10-12,
2012, Graviano, Musa, Piras, Demelas, Piga,
Aini, and Sgarangela estimated that there are
250 different grapevines living on the island
(native, traditional, and international), only
twenty-four of which have been listed in the
National Registry to date. Undoubtedly, many
of those varieties are synonymous with other,
known varieties, but it still seems likely there
are many more cultivars to be discovered on
Sardinia. I don't know about you, but my glass
is ready.
