Vermentino di Sardegma "Naeli" 2024, Dolianova

“Naeli” opens with a brilliant pale straw color edged in green, catching the light the way Sardinia’s coastline catches the sun. The nose is immediately expressive yet refined: lemon blossom, lime peel, and white peach rise first, followed by notes of fresh pear, green melon, and the faintest suggestion of pineapple core. As the wine warms slightly, deeper layers emerge—wild fennel, crushed seashells, sage, and a whisper of bitter almond that feels unmistakably Mediterranean. There’s a breezy, saline lift running through the aroma, evoking the maestrale winds and the mineral-laced hillsides of southern Sardinia.

On the palate, the wine is vibrant and finely textured, balancing crisp acidity with a gentle, almost silky roundness from its brief time on lees. Flavors of Meyer lemon, pear skin, and mandarin oil unfold gradually, accented by mineral tension and a subtle herbal thread—think thyme, fennel frond, and a touch of rosemary. Mid-palate, a delicate bitterness—classic Vermentino—adds shape and sophistication. The finish stretches long and clean, humming with citrus zest, wet stone, and a lingering saline echo. It’s a wine that feels at once sun-soaked and sea-cooled, carrying the unmistakable signature of Sardinia’s coastline: bright, refreshing, and quietly complex, rewarding every sip with another layer of island character.

About the Winery

Founded in 1949 in the Parteolla hills northeast of Cagliari, Cantine di Dolianova is one of Sardinia’s most respected cooperatives—an alliance of more than 300 small growers who farm roughly 1,200 hectares of vines across the island’s southeastern corner. Their shared mission: elevate Sardinia’s native grapes, particularly Vermentino, Nuragus, Cannonau, and Monica, through meticulous vineyard work and clean, modern winemaking.

Dolianova’s vineyards benefit from a trifecta of gifts: limestone and clay-rich soils, relentless Mediterranean sun, and the maestrale winds that sweep across the island, naturally reducing disease pressure and concentrating flavor. The result is fruit of remarkable purity and intensity.

The cellar’s modern era has been shaped by a new generation of Sardinian talent—most prominently Enrico Puxeddu, the young, award-winning winemaker who has become a rising star in the region. Known for his precision, calm confidence, and refusal to let tradition become complacency, Puxeddu has earned accolades across Italy for crafting whites that balance Sardinia’s natural power with delicacy and lift. His Vermentinos—“Naeli” included—are celebrated for their clarity, aromatics, and mineral drive, showing just how elegant this sun-kissed grape can be.

Together, Dolianova’s growers and its ambitious winemaking team have created a cooperative model that feels less like a factory and more like a family—one rooted in land, history, and a shared belief that Sardinia’s native grapes deserve center stage.

Their wines, like the island, are bright, windswept, and impossible to forget.