Antonella Corda, Vermentino di Sardegna

About a year and a half ago I had the honor of traveling to the island of Sardinia with my wife and two kids — a place we still dream about almost every day. This rugged jewel sits in the middle of the Mediterranean, not far west of Tuscany, yet it feels worlds away from mainland Italy. It’s one of those places that seems almost impossibly beautiful. Much of the coastline remains untouched — beaches where the sand is powdery white and the water glows an almost surreal turquoise. Standing there, looking out across the Mediterranean, it feels like you’ve stumbled upon some forgotten corner of the world. And everywhere you go, there is one white wine in your glass: Vermentino.

It’s the drink of the island — bright, salty, refreshing — the kind of wine that seems designed for long lunches by the sea. Some of the best coastal white wine in Italy comes from here, and one producer in particular has been quietly attracting serious attention: Antonella Corda.

Antonella inherited vineyards that have been in her family for generations and has turned them into one of the most exciting boutique estates on the island. High-elevation vineyards, organic farming, and precise stainless-steel winemaking preserve every ounce of freshness in the fruit. The result is a Vermentino that captures everything that makes Sardinian white wine so compelling.

At around $25, this is the kind of bottle you don’t think twice about.

To understand the wine, you have to understand the island. Sardinia sits between Italy, Spain, and North Africa, and its culture reflects centuries of Mediterranean influence. Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, and later Spanish rulers all left their mark here. Yet Sardinia still feels fiercely independent — almost like its own country.

The landscape is dramatic and wildly varied. Along the coast, jagged cliffs plunge into electric-blue water. Hidden coves open into beaches that rival the Caribbean. Inland, the land rises into rugged mountains and rolling hills dotted with cork forests, vineyards, and ancient olive groves that have stood for centuries.

The towns are unforgettable. Each has its own personality — some with narrow stone streets that feel frozen in time, others buzzing with cafés, seafood restaurants, and late-night piazzas. Markets overflow with olives cured in sea salt, pecorino aged in mountain caves, and handmade pastas that have been crafted the same way for generations.

Meals stretch for hours. Grilled fish caught that morning. Bottarga shaved over pasta. Roast lamb with wild herbs. And always chilled glasses of Vermentino on the table — or sometimes Cannonau when the meat arrives.

In the southern part of the island lies the historic agricultural zone around Serdiana, where Antonella Corda’s estate is located. This area has long been one of Sardinia’s agricultural heartlands, with vineyards surrounded by olive groves, wheat fields, and Mediterranean scrub. The climate is ideal for viticulture — warm days, cooling sea breezes, and abundant sunshine tempered by elevation.

Antonella Corda’s story is deeply connected to this land.

She grew up among the vineyards of a multigenerational winegrowing family. The vineyards she farms today were inherited from her grandfather, Antonio Argiolas, whose legacy helped shape the agricultural traditions of the region. Rather than simply continuing the family business, Antonella set out to build something of her own.

After studying agronomy and graduating in Agricultural Sciences and Technology at the University of Sassari, she founded her winery in 2010. Her vision was to create wines that expressed Sardinia’s terroir with clarity and precision while respecting the agricultural heritage she inherited.

Today the estate covers about 40 hectares, though only 15 are planted to vines. Twelve hectares are devoted to olive trees, with the rest reserved for crop rotation and sustainable farming practices. Antonella believes that the health of the vineyard ecosystem is essential to quality, so organic fertilizers, integrated pest management, and sustainable irrigation are used throughout the property.

Two vineyard sites form the backbone of the estate: Mitza Manna, planted at around 200 meters elevation, and Mitsa S’Ollastu near the border of Ussana. The soils are a mix of sand, clay, and loam with notable limestone content — a composition that enhances freshness and aromatic intensity in the wines.

The 2024 Vermentino is exactly what you hope for from Sardinia.

Fermented in stainless steel to preserve purity, it opens with aromas of citrus blossom, white peach, Mediterranean herbs, and a subtle hint of sea breeze. On the palate it’s bright and energetic, showing lemon zest, green apple, and a refreshing saline note that gives the wine its unmistakable coastal character. The finish is crisp, mineral, and incredibly drinkable.

This is a wine made for the foods of Sardinia: malloreddus pasta with clams, grilled Mediterranean fish drizzled with olive oil and lemon, spaghetti with bottarga, or simple plates of olives, pecorino, and fresh seafood.