TheBurg

40 | theburg | 06.16 Cantina Trexenta Contissa Vermentino di Sardegna 2014 Code 78177 | Price $11.99 steve pollack, wine buyer for the Chairman's selection® program, says, "a delicious vermentino with baked apple, citrus, lemon rind and a creamy mouthfeel. fresh and clean." is new-to-pa wine is perfect for summer entertaining. Anzenas Cannonau di Sardegna 2013 Code 78222 | Price $9.99 is perennial favorite is a must try when considering the wines of sardinia. vinous.com gives this italian red 91 points and says, "deep aromas of blackberry, black cherry and mocha are complemented by balsamic nuances. Concentrated, sappy and savory, displaying saline nuances to the black cherry and plum flavors. finishes with serious depth and the broad, polished tannins to support aging." Cusumano Nero D'Avola Code 1222 | Price: $12.99 Chris Zollo, Wine specialty Coordinator for fine Wine & good spirits, says that this 100 percent nero d 'avola is a great introduction to a lesser-known variety. He adds, "it's medium-bodied and approachable, showing ripe fruits, blackberry and plum, along with notes of spice." perfect on its own or easily enjoyed with food. island Wine seek out these unique quaffs from off the coast of italy. bY SteVe JuLIANA Keep sipping, Steve i n recent years, Italy has emerged as perhaps the world's most dynamic wine-producing country. In this Mediterranean land shaped like a boot, tradition meets innovation with ancient grape varieties and new vineyard techniques that produce amazing wines. is is evident on the two largest Italian islands: Sicily and Sardinia. Sicily is the biggest island in the Mediterranean Sea and has been a major maritime crossroads for centuries. It also has the distinction as a "bread basket" for many different cultures. A blend of grain, fruit, unique livestock and seafood create an amazing diversity of foods. e most popular indigenous grape is Nero d'Avola, or "the black from Avola." is grape creates a rich, dark, spicy wine that is found all over Sicily. Nature deigns that this is the only region where this fruit thrives, as attempts to grow it elsewhere have not been productive. Nero goes well with the rich meats and cheeses of the Sicilian diet and with grilled foods. e wine is great bottled singly, but has the ability to make wonderful blends, most notably with French varieties planted on the island. It's definitely a quaff to seek. A popular native white grape is Insolia, which makes a rich, citrusy wine with herbal highlights and a nutty aroma. It matches well with the tuna and swordfish dishes found all over the island. It's also an important component in the making of Marsala, both sweet and dry. One of Sicily's great dessert wines is Zibibbo, which is made from the Moscato di Alexandria, a grape brought from Egypt by the Greeks. A white wine described as eating a golden raisin, it is hard to find but well worth the search. Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean and, compared to much of the rest of Italy, is not overrun by tourists. at's great for us wine-lovers, since so much of the island is dedicated to agriculture. e most popular red grape on the island is known as Cannonau. is is the local name for the Grenache grape, famous in the Rhone Valley of France, where it is blended with Syrah and bottled from Côtes du Rhône to Châteauneuf-du-Pape. e best are bottled singly or blended with Carignano (also called Carignon), another grape with roots in southern France. It goes well with the local cuisine, which is based on lamb, cheese and a unique flatbread made locally. e ones I have tried deserve a place beside your grill and on your table. Vermentino is the best white wine of the island and is arguably the finest white wine in all of Italy. It's a fragrant quaff with great structure and the ability to age. Notably, Sardinia is an international "blue zone," where people have a longer-than-normal lifespan— and I like to think their wine consumption has something to do with that. Great wine, great food and a shot at a long life. Doesn't get much better than that!

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