In the 1920s Marchese Mario della Rocchetta dreamt of creating a ‘thoroughbred wine’ and for him, like for the aristocracy of the time, the ideal was Bordeaux. No one had ever dared to produce a Bordeaux blend on Italian soil before, and certainly not in an unknown area as far as viticulture was concerned. The innovative decision to do so was partly due to the similarity Mario Incise noted between the soils in Bolgheri and that of Graves in Bordeaux.

“None can say with certainty why the same vine will produce a great wine in one field and a less impressive wine in another field nearby. That’s the Genius Loci, the best defender of our Cabernet Sauvignon. We are in nature’s hands and we want to stay that way.” Nicolò Incisa della Rocchetta

Sardinia, the second-largest island in the Mediterranean, sits roughly 200 kilometers west of the Italian mainland. The island's wine production dates back over 3,000 years, with Phoenician and Roman influences shaping its viticultural traditions. Despite its long history, Sardinian wines remained largely local until the late 20th century, when modernization efforts and quality-focused producers began establishing the island's reputation beyond its shores.

The island's diverse terroir spans coastal plains, rolling hills, and mountainous interior regions, with Mediterranean climate moderated by sea breezes. Granite and limestone soils dominate much of the landscape, providing excellent drainage and mineral complexity. Key appellations include Cannonau di Sardegna DOC, covering much of the island for red wines, Vermentino di Sardegna DOC for whites, and smaller zones like Alghero DOC in the northwest. The broader Isola dei Nuraghi IGT classification allows winemakers flexibility with both indigenous and international varieties.

Cannonau, the local name for Grenache, stands as Sardinia's flagship red variety, producing wines ranging from fresh and fruity to concentrated and age-worthy. Vermentino dominates white production, yielding crisp, mineral-driven wines with notable salinity from coastal vineyards. International varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah have found success alongside indigenous grapes such as Carignano (Carignan), often appearing in sophisticated blends that combine Old World tradition with New World techniques. This marriage of native and international varieties, combined with the island's unique terroir, creates wines with distinctive Mediterranean character and surprising complexity.

Isola dei Nuraghi IGT is a regional wine classification covering the entire island of Sardinia, Italy. The designation was established in 1995 as part of Italy's Indicazione Geografica Tipica system, allowing winemakers across Sardinia greater flexibility in grape selection and winemaking practices compared to the island's more restrictive DOC classifications.

The appellation permits both indigenous Sardinian varieties and international grape cultivars, reflecting the island's diverse winemaking heritage and modern innovations. The Mediterranean climate provides warm, dry summers and mild winters, while varied soil types across the island range from granite and schist to limestone and clay. This broad geographical designation allows producers to blend grapes from different vineyard sites across Sardinia, creating wines that can express either specific terroir characteristics or the broader regional identity of the island.

Wines from Isola dei Nuraghi IGT demonstrate considerable diversity due to the wide range of permitted varieties and production zones. Red wines often combine traditional Sardinian grapes like Cannonau and Carignano with international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah. The resulting blends typically show the warm, sun-soaked character of Mediterranean viticulture, with concentrated fruit flavors, structured tannins, and the herbal notes characteristic of the island's macchia vegetation.