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Western Mediterranean: Sardinia is the large Italian island south of Corsica and west of the mainland.
Wind & elevation: Mediterranean warmth, wind, coastal exposure and inland elevation shape different growing conditions.
Varied soils: Granite is a key Gallura reference in the north-east, but the island also has other rock and soil types.

North-eastern origin: Gallura is the more narrowly delimited north-eastern Sardinian origin, associated with granite terrain.
Principal grape: Vermentino is the defining white grape.
Principal style: A fresh, dry white is the main reference; the complete wine type determines its category and production requirements.
Permitted forms: Still wine, Superiore, frizzante, spumante, passito and vendemmia tardiva are recognised categories.
Check sweetness: Ordinary, Superiore and late-harvest wines may range from dry to amabile; late harvest does not automatically mean sweet.

Broader island origin: The DOC covers a wider Sardinian area than Vermentino di Gallura DOCG.
Same principal grape: Both names are associated with Vermentino, but the origins and specifications differ.
No automatic ranking: DOCG versus DOC is an origin/rules distinction, not a guarantee that every individual bottle follows one quality order.

Cannonau di Sardegna DOC: Cannonau is the local Grenache name, associated with many of the island’s principal reds.
Carignano del Sulcis DOC: Carignano, or Carignan, is the key grape of the south-western Sulcis origin.
Monica di Sardegna DOC: An island-wide red-wine origin based on Monica, a distinct local grape often giving supple, berry-fruited wines.

West-central Sardinia: The lower Tirso and Oristano area is the geographical reference.
Vernaccia: The traditional wine is a distinctive dry white from the local Vernaccia grape.
Traditional ageing: Partly filled oak or chestnut casks allow a surface flor film; mature, almond-like or nutty notes are useful tendencies.
Liquoroso: A separate fortified form, which may be dry through sweet. Do not describe every Vernaccia di Oristano as fortified.

One DOCG: Vermentino di Gallura is Sardinia’s sole currently adopted DOCG; the wider Vermentino di Sardegna is DOC.
Grape identities: Vermentino and Vernaccia are different grapes. Cannonau, Carignano and Monica are distinct red references.
At the table: Pour with grilled calamari, fennel and lemon; its fresh finish keeps the seafood pairing light.

Vermentino: Pour with grilled calamari, fennel and lemon; its fresh finish keeps the seafood pairing light.
Service: Fresh dry whites: 9–11°C; textured whites: 11–13°C.

Vernaccia di Oristano became Sardinia’s first DOC in 1971. Its traditional maturation under a surface flor in partly filled casks preserves a wine identity very different from the island’s fresh Vermentino whites.