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 The
white grapevine Vernaccia is without doubt the best known of all the Sardinian
grapevines, even though its presence is limited to the low valleys of the
Tirso, in the province of Oristano.The limited area of its diffusion has led to the hypothesis that is was introduced by Phoenician colonisers, the founders of Tharros, the harbour situated in the Sinis peninsula, and that it then spread to the nearby plain formed by the floods of the river Tirso. It found its ideal habitat there and optimum conditions for the ageing of the homonymous wine. The name of this wine is without doubt of Roman origin and indicated a ‘vernacula’ grape, i.e. one which is of the Iocality. This entomological hypothesis also explains why the name ‘vernaccia’ has spread all over the peninsula, and had the purpose of designating all the local vines which could not be classified otherwise, vines which are completely different from the Sardinian Vernaccia, sometimes even with coloured grapes. In the Oristano dialect it sometimes assumes the Spanish name ‘Garnaccia’ or ‘Crannaccia’, and it is indicated by Moris with similar synonyms and in the description of ‘Vitis austera’ he speaks of Varnaccia’ or ‘Carnaccia'. lt is also noted by Manca dell’Arca, who calls it ‘Granazza’, while Cettolini and Lolli call it by its correct name ‘Vernaccia’. This grapevine, which is quite sensitive to crittogam and is of good and constant production, prefers cool and deep alluvial soils, composed of detritus, typical of the lower valley of the Tirso. lt is usually cuItivated as a Latin bush. The homonymous wine which is obtained from this grapevine to reach its best requires threefour years of ageing in a barrel in the traditional cellars of Oristano with their cupmarked roofs based on canes. Currently, as well as the DOC 'Vernaccia di Oristano’, with its various typologies, this laudable vine is used to produce a young white wine which is sold with a geographical indication ‘Valle del Tirso’, and it is also the base for a brut spumante. |
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Via San Lussorio 1, 09070 San Vero
Milis (OR) - Tel/Fax + 39 0783 53329
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