Cantina Trexenta Contissa Vermentino di Sardegna
November 2, 2011
Grape
85% Vermentino [ver-men-tee-no], 15% Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc (% varies by vintage)
Facts
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If you’ve gotten this far into the article, I have to congratulate you! The title of this article is more than an ample mouthful for most! For that reason, I wouldn’t expect to find this wine too widely carried by retailers, although it’s worth seeking out!
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I’ve thrown in some holiday snaps into this post from my trip to Sardinia back in ‘09. Hope you don’t mind.
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Cantina Trexenta is actually a co-operative of 23 grape-growers from different towns within the Trexenta region of Sardinia. The group was formed in 1956, with growers pooling together their supplies of grapes, and then making wine under one label.
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The origin of the Vermentino grape is unknown, but it can be viewed as THE white grape of the tiny Italian island of Sardinia. It can also be considered one of the most under-rated grapes on the planet (when made correctly)!
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Vermentino
can also be found in small amounts in Piedmont (Italy), Languedoc and Corsica (France); and also in very small amounts in California. Tablas Creek have been known to play around with it.
Place (click map for larger view)
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Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily), and is considered part of Italy.
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The most widely planted red grape on the island of Sardinia is Cannonau, more commonly known as Grenache.
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Sardinia is known to be one of the Blue Zones, that is, if you subscribe to that kind of thing!
Studies in Sardinia have shown people to live over the age of 100 at a much higher rate than in the U.S. One town of 2500 produced 7 centenarians. A group of about 35,000 people in the U.S. would be needed to produce similar results.
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Sardinian archeological research undertaken in 2004, discovered the remains of vines and wine sediment that was dated back to 1200 B.C. What this tells us is that even “back in the day”, people still liked to “get their drink on”! Fact!
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Vermentio di Gallura is the only Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) wine from Sardinia.
Taste
Pale straw-like color (typical for Vermentino), lemon, green apple, apricot and herbal fragrances. Palate shows bold apricot and peach, banana, pineapple, grape skin, and with a zing of acidity toward the finish. Medium in body. Think Pinot Grigio, only with more depth. Drink young.
Pairing
Once again, I hold firm to my statement that: ALL ITALIAN WINES NEED FOOD!
If you go to Sardinia, you’ll never see any of the locals sat around drinking wine by itself. There’s always something on the table, whether it be as simple as Pane Guttiau, all the way through to a 7-course feast.
With Vermentino, you can’t go wrong with fresh seafood, oysters, white fish, smoked meats, salad, grilled Mediterranean vegetables, baked breads, gnocchi, and homemade pasta.
Price
$15.99
Imported into the U.S. by Vigneti d’Italia Imports, Miami.
