A territory few people know — and one that's worth everything
There is a wine Sardinia you won't find in the best-known catalogues. It isn't Barbagia, it isn't Sulcis, it isn't Gallura. It is Sarrabus — and its epicentre is Villasimius.
In the south-eastern corner of the island, where the turquoise sea of Costa Rei meets the granite hills of the hinterland, lies one of the most interesting and least talked-about wine territories in all of Sardinia. An area that produces wines of great character, freshness and identity — and that we at Colline del Vento call home.
The territory: granite, wind and sea
Sarrabus stretches between Sardinia's east coast and the hilly hinterland, taking in towns such as Muravera, Castiadas and the famous Villasimius — one of the most beautiful destinations in Italy, but also a territory with an extraordinary calling for winegrowing.
Four elements make this corner of Sardinia unique for winegrowing:
- Wide temperature swings between day and night — temperatures drop at sunset, slowing ripening and preserving acidity and aromas
- Constant winds from the sea — the mistral and sea breezes keep the vines healthy and protect them from disease
- Sandy, granitic soils, rich in minerals — soils that drain well and pass their character on to the wine
- A dry, sunny Mediterranean climate — intense summers, mild winters: the perfect rhythm for the vine
This combination creates a unique microclimate found nowhere else on the island. And the wine, as always, tells the exact story of the place where it is born.
Winegrowing in Sarrabus: ancient roots, a new voice
Winegrowing in this area has deep roots — the same Nuragic and Phoenician roots that run through the whole history of Sardinian wine. But it is in recent decades that Sarrabus has found a new voice: that of small producers who have chosen to focus on quality and a sense of place.
The most widely grown varieties are those that have belonged to this land for centuries:
- Vermentino — the white that smells of flowers, citrus and sea salt; ideal for fresh, mineral wines
- Cannonau — the oldest red of the Mediterranean, which in this area shows elegant tannins and ripe fruit
- Nuragus — the base of our orange wines Zankitai and C'alma, able to transform completely with skin maceration
- Minor native varieties — patiently brought back by those who believe that a territory's biodiversity is also its wealth
Villasimius: not just beaches
Villasimius is famous for its turquoise waters, its white sand beaches and Capo Carbonara. But those who stay a few days longer discover the hills behind it — the Brennas hills, where our vineyards are — and realise there is more.
The hills of Villasimius benefit directly from the influence of the sea: the wind blowing in from the water brings freshness and salinity, qualities you find in the profile of the wines, especially the whites and rosés.
We at Colline del Vento have been here since 2006. Five hectares of vineyard, granite soils, hand harvesting in September. Every bottle we make is a story of this territory — not an interpretation, not a correction: a faithful account.
Sarrabus wines at the table
The wines born in this territory pair naturally with the local cuisine:
- Vermentino — fresh fish, shellfish, fregola with clams, seafood carpaccio
- Cannonau — roast meats, aged pecorino, lamb, game
- Orange wine (Zankitai, C'alma) — medium-aged cheeses, oily fish, spiced dishes, lamb
Pairings that don't need complicated rules — because they come from the same land.
A territory on the rise
In recent years Sarrabus has been going through a real wine renaissance. Small wineries and artisan producers are bringing the wines of this area to the attention of national and international critics — and the results show.
It isn't a fad. It is the recognition of something that was already there, in the soil, in the wind, in the granite. Something that was just waiting to be told the right way.
Villasimius and Sarrabus are one of the most authentic expressions of Sardinian wine. A territory to discover — sip by sip, as those who truly love it say.
Salude e trigu — health and wheat, as we say in Sardinia.
