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The Carignano del Sulcis DOC appellation is found in Sardinia and was introduced in June 1977. The appellation includes red and rosé wines produced with the Carignano grape, grown in the southwestern portion of the island. This characterful variety came to both Sardinia, Provence or eastern Spain.
Sulcis is the coastal area located opposite the city of Sant’Antioco, founded by the Phoenicians and the original name was Solki, which eventually became Sulcis.
The red and rosé wines of the appellation are also available in the Riserva, Superiore, Novello and Passito types. There is no type of liqueur alike in many other Sardinian DOC wines (for example the Girò di Cagliari DOC).
Carignano del Sulcis Riserva wines undergo two years of ageing, of which at least six months in bottle, a requirement reduced to three months for basic red wines. The superior type must be obtained from grapes grown on vines reared with the traditional Alberello Latino method.
The rosé and Novello types can have an alcoholic strength of 11% by volume, compared to 12.5% of the other types. The passito must be obtained from naturally dried grapes and pressed between 10 October and 31 March following the harvest.
Furthermore, the passito must have aged for at least nine months (starting from May 1st after harvesting), of which three months in the bottle. The minimum alcohol content must be 16% by volume.
The largest part of the production of Carignano grape is located in Sardinia, in the Sulcis region, in the mountainous part in the southeast of the island. It is located at the same latitude as Murcia in southern Spain, Alentejo in Portugal and Calabria in Italy.
Carignano del Sulcis DOC wine can come from one or more of the 18 municipalities specified in the specification, almost all located in the territory of the former province of Carbonia-Iglesias, now incorporated into the new province of South Sardinia.
The area of competence of the denomination extends into the territory of the former province of Cagliari, in particular around Teulada, but the vast majority of the grapes are grown closer to Sulcis itself.
In the north-eastern corner, a respectable number of vines are grown between the cities of Sant’Antioco and Calasetta. Here, the northern end of the Gulf of Palmas separates the island from the Sardinian mainland and the proximity of the sea provides the breezes that cool the southernmost vineyards of Sardinia. Its resistance to salty maritime winds and its ability to grow in sandy, hot soils makes this wine perfect for this climate and allows the variety to produce a rich, full and intensely perfumed wine.
Today, the Carignano grape is the 11th most planted variety in the world, with over 80000 hectares of vineyards.
The wine must be made from at least 85% Carignano (Mazuelo) and a maximum of 15% of other authorised varieties.
Carignano del Sulcis DOC is of deep garnet colour, with notes of plum, black cherry, dark chocolate, spices, licorice and black pepper. The taste is long, with smooth ripe and fine tannins.
This wine pairs well with first courses with meat sauces, with lamb in the oven or scottadito, with roasts and braised beef.
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When was the last time you had dinner in an Italian restaurant in Canada and you thought you were dining in Italy? That’s exactly how “Ospitalità Italiana Certified”restaurants want you to feel when you visit their fine dining establishments.
Ospitalità Italiana is an official certification from Unioncamere, Italy’s federation of local Chambers of Commerce and Industry, that tells you that the food you are enjoying is unquestionably Italian: products are authentic, ingredients genuine and recipes true to the thousand year history of Italian cuisine.
Canada is home to some leading Italian Chefs. Passionate and innovative, many have refined their skills and advanced their knowledge directly in Italy. In addition, Montréal boasts a fabulous cooking school ITHQ where young aspiring chefs learn Italian technic and Italian traditional recipes from the masters.
So the next time you make reservations for an Italian dinner in a Montreal restaurant, ask if they’ve received the Ospitalità Italiana seal of approval. You will enjoy the true Italian taste.
