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Vineyard: Shardana in Santadi

Region: Sardinia

On Sardinia’s extreme southwest coastline, we find Sulcis: a cape of gently rolling land, jutting out into the Mediterranean in one ample sweep of white sand, steep vineyards and emerald waves. As you sail into the island from the south, Sulcis is your first view of Sardinia. It was this blue-green shore the Phoenicians first glimpsed from their Middle Eastern vessels, three thousand years ago. From the Sulcis peninsula, these adventurous traders navigated northwards, eventually colonizing the entire island.
SHARDANA was their name for the native Sardinians — and the mysterious red symbol on the label is a Phoenician S.
Three thousand years later, Neil and Maria Empson chose this ancient word for their own tribute to beautiful Sardinia: a full-bodied, voluptuous red from 85% indigenous (partly pre-Phylloxera!) Carignano grapes and 15% Shiraz.
The style was inspired by Sulcis’ exceptional terroir and reflects the region’s power-packed, layered complexity; the depth of its seas, the spicy fragrance of its ever-present winds. The label itself — with its stark, simple graphics — speaks of the island: the enigmatic Phoenician emblem and slate-colored nuraghe (Sardinia’s giant, prehistoric stone tower).
Neil and Maria orchestrate Shardana in synergy with Santadi’s brilliant winemaking team, extracting all Carignano’s richness and nobility, while making a statement of their very own.
This is the wine they’d dreamed of as they walked the seafront vineyards of Sulcis, where sun-drenched grapes glitter in the Mediterranean light, reaching out from this dramatic peninsula towards the crystal-clear Sardinian sea, blue and green and turquoise; the color of dreams past and to come.
Sulcis includes some of the hottest, driest and wildest areas on the island, providing the perfect groundwork for high-quality viticulture, and an ideal home to Carignano.
This sturdy indigenous grape is extremely ancient, probably originating in Carifera (Spain). Through the centuries, the Sardinian version acquired an identity of its own, quite distinct from its genetic cousin, French Carignan.
When the Empsons began the SHARDANA project, in 1996, they chose the Santadi team as their ideal partners, selecting the winery’s seafront vineyards for the outstanding terrain, microclimate, and ampelographic history. Time proved them right, for when the wine was finally released, in June, 1999, Neil and Maria felt that SHARDANA successfully captured the spirit of the Emerald Island, speaking for this incredible soil in its own, unique accents.

Additional Information

Country Italy
Region

Sardinia

It is hard not to note the similarities between the historical events of Sicily and Sardinia. Like her larger counterpart to the south, Sardinia has been invaded by everyone from the Phoenicians, who introduced winemaking to the islands, to the many rulers of Spain. To this day, the language of Sardinia reflects many Spanish influences not found elsewhere in Italy. In fact, the white grape Vermentino and the red varieties Cannonau and Carignano are thought to have been introduced during the Spanish occupation during the Middle Ages. (Going even further back, the variety Nuragus is believed to have been planted by the Phoenicians). Beyond the numerous invasions, both regions enjoy significant natural conditions for viticulture- intense daytime sunlight, and cooling maritime breezes. Both have diverse microclimates and both a history of cooperative wine production. But Sardinia has the least Italian feel, retaining an identity that is fiercely independent of the mainland. It is more rustic and rugged, with 85% of the land covered by mountains and rocks smoothed over by intense winds. The winds from Africa, known as Scirocco, are so intense that many vines have been allowed to grow in the untrained, low to the ground, style known as Alberello (little tree), to prevent damage that would result with the off the ground training methods found in other regions. The cuisine is decidedly more focused on game and foods that could be cultivated on land rather than the sea. Despite having the most coast shores of all, Sardinians historically have kept their distance from the sea-fear of malaria along with superstitions being the primary cause.
And while Sicily has had dramatic developments with intense investment contributing to its rise in quality, Sardinia has seen a more subtle evolution. In part, this is due to the minor role wine has in the local economy. Sardinian wine accounts for just 2% of all Italian wine produced (Statistics vary but the split is fairly even between red and white). Interestingly, the result is that cooperatives like Santadi have been behind the drive for quality, with the assistance of renowned winemaker Giacomo Tacchis. Another contradiction to note is, while relatively little wine is produced in Sardinia, cork is a major industry of the island.