Cannonau (Italy)
Cannonau is the main grape in the island of Sardinia, Italy.
Typical Flavors
 Blackberry |
 Black Currant |
 Black Cherry |
 Plum |
 Herbs |
 Violet |
 Spices |
 Licorice |
Oak Added Flavors:
 Oak |
 Vanilla |
 Cinnamon |
 Tobacco |
Black and Blue Fruit, Wild Berries, and Plum (or Jam) are typical Cannonau flavors.
Hints of Violets or Roses, and Herbs (Anise).
Oak added Flavors: Vanilla. Cinnamon. Tobacco.
Profile
| BODY | Medium - Full | ||
| TANNINS | Medium - Plus | ||
| FRUIT | Medium - Plus | ||
| ACIDITY | Medium | ||
| |||
Food Pairing
 Tapas |
 Salami |
 Ham |
 Pizza |
 Cassoulets |
 Chicken |
 Duck |
 Rabbit |
 Pork |
 Lamb |
 Veal |
 Game |
Cannonau is very food friendly. It has good fruit and smooth tannins.
It pairs perfectly with rich Stews, Cassoulets and Marinated Asian.
Cannonau also loves Barbecue and Grilled Meat (Beef. Veal. Pork. Chicken. Game).
Pairing Suggestions
Excellent Pairing:
Tapas. Cured Meat. Pizza.
Stews. Cassoulets. Goulash.
Asian Marinated Dishes.
Indian Chicken Tikka Masala.
Poultry. Roasted Duck with Plum.
Pork. Rabbit. Game.
Lamb. Lamb Shanks.
Braises. Roast. BBQ.
Game with Cherry Sauce.
Strong Cheese:
Pecorino Sardo. Asiago Vecchio (Aged). Manchego. Cheddar. Gouda.
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The Ideal Glass
The Bordeaux glass is perfect for medium to full bodied red wines.
It is taller than other red wine glasses, and has a slimmer bowl.
The large size of the glass allows the fruit bouquet to develop. It smooths out rough edges, plays down tannins, and allows the wines to achieve balance.
The slimmer bowl sends the wine directly to the back of the mouth for maximum taste.
Grenache / Garnacha / Cannonau
Grenache is one of the most widely planted red wine grapes in the world.
Grenache is called Garnacha in Spain and Cannonau in Italy.
The grape is said to be native of Aragón in Spain (near Navarra and Rioja).
From Spain it travelled to Languedoc-Roussillon in France, then to the Rhône Valley, and finally to Sardinia in Italy.
However, recent DNA analysis indicates that Grenache is native to Sardinia.
Today the grape is most famous for its importand role in the GSM wines from the Rhône Valley (Côtes du Rhône Villages and Châteauneuf-du-Pape).
Cannonau in Italy
In Italy, Grenache is most commonly found in Sardinia under the name Cannonau.
The DOC wine "Cannonau di Sardegna Classico" must contain at least 90% Cannonau.
Best Quality: Cannonau di Sardegna DOC. Subzones Nepente di Oliena, Jerzu, and Capo Ferrato.
Cannonau is also grown elsewhere in Italy under the names: Alicante, Tocai Rosso, Granaccia, and Vernaccia Nera.
Sardegna (Sardinia)
Sardegna is best known for vacation and beaches. The capital is Cagliari.
In the wine world, Sardegna is best known for the white Vermentino and the red Cannonau.
