Antonella Corda, Cannonau di Sardegna 2021

According to Puecher, the constant wind off the sea is an important factor influencing wine quality here. The vineyard is an old river bed with an unusually high percentage of pebbles, which help drainage and encourage the roots to delve deep for water. Each vine provides between four and six bunches so a maximum of 1.5 kg (3.3 lb) of fruit per vine. The grapes were hand-picked and given a cold soak at 10–12 °C for no more than 24 hours before fermentation After this, between 15 and 20% of the wine is aged in non-toasted small François Frères barrels for at least six months while the remaining wine ages in tank. The two components are then blended together and aged further in tank before being bottled and spending at least four months in bottle before the wine is released on the market.

"Where the river once flowed, silt and pebble now remain. On this ground I decided to plant my Cannonau."

Antonella Corda is a Sardinian wine producer with a history. Her mother Maria is the daughter of Antonio Argiolas, who did so much to put the wine of this beautiful Italian island on the map. The famous viticulturist died at the age of 104 and doubtless inspired his granddaughter to study agronomy. He also left her two of his most prized vineyards not far north of the Sardinian capital Cagliari.

Antonella Corda began to work with the family’s 15 ha (37 acres) of vines and 12 ha (30 acres) of olive trees in 2010 and by 2016 was producing her own bottled wine, rather smartly packaged.