The Cannonau is the Sardinian name for the red wine grape known elsewhere as Grenache or Garnacha.
The best known Cannonau wines belong to the Cannonau di Sardegna Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) on the island of Sardinia.The grape’s name is sometimes spelled Cannonao.
The Cannonau grape produces powerful and full-bodied red wines with medium alcohol, soft acidity and generous red-fruit flavors of raspberry and strawberry, alongside more floral and spicy notes. It may be produced as a single varietal wine or blended with other varieties.
The Cannonau grape is ideal for blending because it adds body and fruit without adding tannin and toffee notes with age. Under the names Grenache and Garnacha, the Cannonau grape is widely cultivated in France and Spain, respectively. It is also cultivated in Australia, where it forms an integral part of the so-called GSM blends, alongside Syrah and Mourvèdre.
Grenache can also be found in the USA, particularly in California and Washington.
Their predicament peaked the interest of scientists at the University of Pennsylvania. This partnership led to the excavation of archaeological sites in Borore, Sardinia in 2002.
They discovered hundreds of preserved grape seeds dating back to 3,200 years ago. DNA testing at UPenn laboratories confirmed that grape seeds were the remnants of Cannonau and distinct from modern day Grenache. This discovery was a victory for Sardinians in more ways than one.
Not only do they have their signature grape back, Sardinians,also lay claim to the oldest grape in the Mediterranean Basin given the date identified during archaeological testing. That’s right — in some of the best places to grow grapes in the world, Cannonau is the oldest and it belongs to Sardinia.
Moral of the story: don’t mess with the intellectual prowess of a Sardinian. Why not extend your longevity and start drinking Cannonau!
GRENACHES OF THE WORLD
In 2013, the Interprofessional Council of Roussillon Wines organised the first competition for this high-quality grape variety. With its roots in Roussillon, Grenaches du Monde has since became itinerant, each year hosted by regions producing wines based on the Grenache grape variety. Over the years, the event has become the unmissable annual meeting for professionals in the wine industry worldwide.
Each year, rising numbers of wine producers have been participating in this event. More than 800 samples from France, Spain, Italy, South Africa, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Macedonia, Lebanon and Greece amongst other countries are expected to be entered in the next event.
There Sardinian and Veneto wines of the company Montespada.
