CANNONAU (Grenache)
It is commonly known as a red wine from the Italian island of Sardinia. It is made from Cannonau grapes, the local name for the Grenache – one of Sardinia's most successful wine grapes.
History
It has long been thought that the variety arrived on Sardinia in the early 14th Century. However, in the past few years, Italian researchers have uncovered evidence suggesting that Cannonau (and therefore Grenache) may well have originated right in Sardinia.
Wine Regions
The region-wide "Cannonau di Sardegna D.O.C." title covers the entire island, from Sulcis and Cagliari in the south to Gallura in the north – a distance of approximately 250km. It was introduced in June 1972.
The finest examples of Cannonau di Sardegna are arguably from the eastern half of the island, in the Nuoro, Ogliastra, Cagliari and Gallura provinces.
Cannonau di Sardegna has recently attracted unprecedented and remarkable attention, not only for its outstanding quality, but also for its curious association with longevity. Sardinian people tend to live well into their 90s and in many cases to over 100, and diet on the island is usually given as a key factor in this. "Cannonau di Sardegna" Wine tends to be high in anthocyanins and polyphenols, antioxidant-rich compounds which have been linked to heart health.