2021 'San Costantino' Cannonau di Sardegna, Poderi Parpinello

Warm, generous and full of island character, this Sardinian Cannonau opens with ripe red fruits, black raspberry, currant and a savoury brush of Mediterranean herbs. There is a gentle spiced note running through it, bringing lift and warmth without losing the easy charm of the fruit. Dry, rounded and full-bodied, it has the kind of supple, sun-warmed feel that makes it instantly at home beside rustic food.

For when: the table is hearty, the evening is long and the cooking smells of rosemary, smoke and sea air.

Pairs with: roast lamb, grilled sausages, game, tomato-rich pasta, aged pecorino, aubergine parmigiana or Sardinian flatbread with herbs and olives.

Poderi Parpinello is a family estate rooted in the north west of Sardinia, between Alghero and Sassari, with the San Costantino vineyard close to Lake Baratz and the sea. Founded by the Parpinello family after generations of work in Sardinian wine, the estate brings together local grapes, coastal vineyards and a deep affection for the island’s traditions. San Costantino feels very much part of that story: welcoming, expressive and unmistakably Sardinian.