Sandy Somm Storytasting

08/26/2026

The last winery I visited on my trip to southern Sardinia was Cantine Nuraghe Antigori, named after the nuragic complex located there that dates back to the second millennium BC.  Like, the Bronze age. My brain cannot even comprehend something that old.

I stumbled upon this place while looking at Google maps and my route from P**a to the airport. I am so glad I added this beautiful and unique place to my itinerary..  The estate is over 500 hectares, only 21 of which are vineyards.  Indigenous and endangered wild horses live amongst the olive trees and you can see the ocean looking out from the vines. The wines and olive oil they produce are organic. 

Claudia, my guide and host, led my tasting with the knowledge of a local that had worked there for decades. I was shocked to learn she had only been working there a few months as her knowledge and enthusiasm for the winery and its history was immense. After tasting my way through  a white, rosé and a red, I got to meet a few of the indigenous horses that live wild on the property. 

The white and rosé were especially drinkable- light, crisp and nicely fruit forward with that Sardinian minerality peeking round the corner. Would have loved to have been able to take back a case or two in my suitcase to help me get through the rest of the hot summer. 

08/04/2026

My Carignano del Sulcis journey continued at Cantina Mesa on my way from Sant'Antioco to P**a.   Cantina Mesa is perched on the side of sloped vineyards with a view of the sea and the valley.  I was greeted warmly by Sara, who would turn out to be a wonderful storyteller. 

She took me out to the vineyard in front of the winery to explain every detail of the land - the vines, bushes, trees and other plants, all of which served a purpose and were present in some way in their wines. Next, we went inside and looked at the modern building itself, as she told me stories about the winery's history and its owner.  Every single detail was thoughtful, from the building itself to the custom tapestry artwork.

And the tasting of the wine itself was the definition of storytasting. Sara did not just tell me about the grapes and aromas and technicalities. Each wine was presented as its own tale, as if the wine itself was a living breathing character in an epic novel. I didn't just taste aromas, body and textures, I tasted the experiences that inspired each wine. 

The standouts for me were the Galesa 2022, a Vermentino with 18 hours of maceration and some time in both barrel and steel. The oak was complimentary and not a bit overwhelming.  The Buio Buio 2022 Carignano was filled with balsamic raspberry notes and medium tannins. It would pair well with peace and quiet.

07/29/2026

My next stop on the non-island of Sant'Antioco was Tenuta La Scogliera, located on the west coast near Calasetta.

The location at sunset was so lovely this is the only picture I took. I was enthralled by not only the view, but with Erica's story of the vineyard and her path in life.

I was in awe of her passion for the history of the land and the vines. It was so immense she abandoned what I can only assume was a promising law career to focus on her family's vineyards and winery. She is on a mission to have vineyards with ungrafted vines be declared Unesco World Heritage sites. She has plans for the winemaking direction of the winery as well as a vision for the future of hospitality there. In short, she is a force to be reckoned with. I have no doubts her dreams will become a reality.

Clearly she is a busy person, so I felt honored that she spent time with me. While she declared the rosé "not her best" and something she knows she could make better, it was actually right in my wheelhouse with wonderful fruit bursting from the glass. The Carignano we tasted had just been bottled a few months ago so while not ready, the potential was tasty. I had to pick up a bottle to try in a year or so.

I could keep writing but instead I will just say that I look forward to following the future of this winery. And if you are in Sardinia, definitely do a sunset wine tasting.

07/28/2026

I have been in the south of Sardinia for the past week on holiday and I could not resist visiting some wineries and learning more about the Carignano de Sulcis.

While on the not-technically-an-island island Sant'Antioco, I first stopped at Xabarra, a quick 15'minute walk from the town, which didn't feel so quick considering it was 99 degrees outside.

I was greeted by Bettina, the owner, with a warm smile. She introduced me to her son, who spoke English well, and her husband, who also joined the tasting.

We then sat around a table outside of their home and didn't simply taste their wine, but shared a bottle like I was a distant relative or old friend. They served me a platter of food, most of which also came from their land.

They produce one bottle of Carignano, unoaked, and some of the vines are very old, ungrafted, all from their family property.

I pummeled them with questions about their land, winemaking, family, and favorite vintages. They happily answered every question with excitement. Bettina genuinely seemed to enjoy being a host and sharing her precious wine with a stranger.

I got so lost in enjoying myself in the conversation that I took no notes on the wine. But I will never forget the freshness that struck me. It was a freshness I would normally associate with a wine much lighter in body. This Carignano was bordering on full body, was intense in the dark red fruit, but somehow was still fresh and delightful and easy drinking in the 99 degree heat. Had to the magic of the Mistral wind and a minerality that was well integrated.

I will never forget the special time I spent here. We ended the tasting with hugs of course.

07/16/2026

The World Cup pairing with wine and cheese is dangerously fun when it's Spain vs France.

Spain won the game and the cheese for me- Queso Curado Tres Leches. Added some tomato jam and it was heaven. The Spanish Rosé was quite yummy too- good amount of fruit on it, just like I like it. Both were from

France might have lost the game, but the clear wine winner was the Champagne from I visited last year and almost forgot just how fantastic their Champagnes were, especially this Heri-Hodie. Again, I do prefer there to be a decent amount of fruit on my Champagne that is not overpowered by the minerality. This fit the bill and won the day.

05/07/2026