Sulcis Wine Route – Sardinia: red soils, ungrafted vineyards and the deep breath of Carignano between islands and ancient mines. The Sulcis Wine Route crosses the south-western part of Sardinia, between the coasts of the Sant'Antioco Channel, the agricultural landscapes of San Giovanni Suergiu, Giba and Narcao, and the island of Sant'Antioco itself. It is a mineral, saline and harsh land, where Carignano del Sulcis DOC comes from sandy vineyards, often ungrafted, resistant to phylloxera and witnesses of heroic viticulture. 🍇 Ancient vineyards overlooking the sea: Carignano, a Spanish grape variety acclimatized for centuries, is at its best here. Thanks to the sandy soils, dry climate and constant wind, it produces intense and deep reds, with silky tannins and a marine aroma. The riserva and passita versions, vinified in purity, reveal the richness of a territory that speaks the language of resilience. 👉 Tip: Taste a Carignano del Sulcis Riserva alongside aged cheeses or a plate of suckling pig with myrtle: a combination of power and balance. 🏞️ Island of Sant'Antioco, salt pans and mining villages: The route winds through dazzling salt pans, overhanging vineyards and villages where industrial memory coexists with the most authentic rurality. The island of Sant'Antioco, with its rocky coasts and Phoenician-Punic culture, is the beating heart of the area, while the hinterland preserves historic wineries and small producers custodians of traditional methods. 👉 Tip: Stop at sunset in the salt pans of Sant'Antioco with a glass of Carignano rosé: warm light, wind and marine silence. 🚶 Rural paths and hidden archaeologies: Paths and secondary roads connect cellars, nuraghi, tombs of giants, disused mines and forgotten archaeological sites. It is possible to travel stretches by bike or on foot, crossing a unique landscape where the land smells of sulfur, wild herbs and ancient labors. 👉 Tip: Plan a day between Carbonia and Narcao: visit a former mine, then taste a Carignano in the vineyard together with local producers. 🍴 Strong flavors and structured wines: The wines of Sulcis are accompanied by rustic and intense dishes: boiled sheep, legume soup and pistoccu bread, Sulcis bluefin tuna and roasted meats. The minerality of Carignano enhances robust flavors, while the rosés and whites of the area lend themselves to simple and genuine seafood dishes. 👉 Tip: Try a chickpea and wild fennel soup with a glass of young Carignano: an embrace between land and wine. 🎉 Wine festivals and community hospitality: The Sulcis Wine Route is full of events throughout the year: open cellars, new wine festivals, food and wine festivals and moments of rural sharing. The communities welcome with simplicity, between stories, traditional music and home-cooked dishes. 👉 Tip: Visit Sulcis in autumn, during the grape harvest: the sandy vines are colored and the air smells of must and salty wind. The Sulcis Wine Route is a deep and resistant Sardinia, where wine comes from the sand, speaks the language of the sea and preserves the soul of its roots.