Attilio Scienza interview with Stevie in Sardinia - pt. 3

Stevie Kim and the Professor are back for another episode of "On the Road Edition" (which you can find here and on Italian Wine Podcast) shot at the Sella & Mosca winery in Sardinia. As you know, they are on a "Field Trip" discovering the island, its culture, heritage, cuisine, and of course, its wine.

As always, there are some detours along the way, including this time the compatibility between science and religion, the troubled issue of dogma and moral theology, and the influence of the great scholastic philosopher Saint Thomas Aquinas on the Professor's view of life, as well as the obligatory lesson in classical etymology – this time discovering the meaning of the Greek/Latin word periplus (no spoilers – you'll need to watch the video to find out what it means!).

Moving to the core of the conversation, the Professor outlines the itinerary of the trip and the key learning objectives for the participants.

The Professor explains that Sardinia has a long history of winemaking that dates back four or five thousand years, also explaining the geological formation of the island and the role that early maritime trade routes played in opening the island to the capacity for wine production, as well as the role of the ancient Phoenicians and Carthaginians, who inspired wine production on the island and the difficulties faced by Roman invaders as they tried to secure a foothold. The Professor also highlights the importance of Catalan/Spanish influence on the island.

Despite the many other varieties grown in Sardinia, the Professor emphasizes what the two pillars of Sardinian viticulture are: Vernaccia di Oristano and Cannonau (the local variant of the Grenache variety).

The Professor explains that in the southern part of the region, there are vines that are over 100 years old and introduces us to some of the unique winemaking techniques used to produce Vernaccia di Oristano.

The Professor then talks about the Sella e Mosca winery and its commitment to producing Vermentino, Cannonau, and Malvasia di Roussillon, locally known as Torbato.

He then reveals one of the next stops on the itinerary: the town of Bosa.

Bosa is one of the most picturesque villages in Italy, a cluster of brightly colored houses along the mouth of the Temo River, on the western coast of the island. It has an important history, is famous for its tanneries, but also as a center for wine production and distribution.

The Professor explains the volcanic origin of the region and the impact it has on current viticulture and, in particular, on the Sardinian variant of the “lead grape” of Malvasia, which has been cultivated and traded throughout the Mediterranean but has been in decline in recent years.

On The Road Edition hosted by Stevie is a series, part of the Mamma Jumbo Shrimp brand, available on both YouTube and Italian Wine Podcast. In addition to these, in the Mamma Jumbo Shrimp family, you can also find a series of books, wine courses, and much more – the truth is we love Italian wine but we won't turn our noses up at other wines!