Wine of the Week 2/9/21

Contini Tonaghe Cannonau di Sardegna 2019

Regularly $17.99/On Sale for $13.96

Cannonau is the Sardinian name for Garnacha, or Grenache. It used to be thought that Garnacha was brought to the island in the early 14th century by the Aragonese when they conquered large portions of the Mediterranean (regions that correlate closely with the widespread popularity of Garnacha), but increasingly there is evidence that the grape originated right here in tiny Sardinia. There is archaeological evidence of the cultivation of grapes dating back to a Phoenician settlement in 2000 BCE, and winemaking has been part of Sardinia’s culture ever since.

Salvatore Contini began the Contini estate in 1898, and the winery remains family-run. While particularly celebrated for their white wines, Contini has a commitment to traditional Sardinian grapes, and make several versions of Cannonau. The “Tonaghe” (the Sardinian name for the woody part of the grape-bunch, which gives the fruit all its nourishment) is grown in volcanic soils rich in obsidian in the foothills of Mount Arci. The mild winters and hot summers combine with the soil to produce a silky complex version of the grape, quite different from its French and Spanish manifestations. The strong wood canopy of Grenache allows it to thrive in a windy climate but also makes mechanical harvesting and pruning difficult, so all harvesting is by hand.

In recent years Cannonau wines have been associated with longevity and linked to the unusually long lifespan of the Sardinian population which sees many live well into their 90s. We make no claims of our own, but it sure couldn’t hurt to hedge your bets by buying a few bottles of a rare and very under-appreciated expression of one of the world’s great grapes. And at a great price too!