Info Cellar

Sardegna

Richard Godin Sardegna October 20, 2021January 8, 2000

The island of Sardegna, 200km off the west coast of the Italian mainland, is a repository of multiple, quite disparate cultures and only truly became ‘Italian’ when it was ceded to the kingdom of Savoy in 1726. Its stellar list of conquerors include Carthage, ancient Rome, Byzantines, Arabs and then finally ending up in the hands of the Spanish for 400 years. This last occupation undoubtedly explains why Spanish varieties – Vermentino, Cariñena and Garnacha (known locally as Cannonau) – …

Sauvignon Blanc

Richard Godin Sauvignon Blanc October 20, 2021January 8, 2000

One of the most widely planted white grape varieties in the world, which originated in Bordeaux but probably better associated with New Zealand today. Depending on the climate, the flavor can range from aggressively grassy to sweetly tropical. In cooler climates, the grape has a tendency to produce wines with noticeable acidity and “green flavors” of grass, green bell peppers and nettles with some tropical fruit (such as passion fruit) and floral (such as elderflower) notes. In warmer climates, it …

Sauvignon Gris

Richard Godin Sauvignon Gris October 20, 2021January 8, 2000

Sauvignon Gris is a pink-skinned mutation of Sauvignon Blanc, quite rare and grown in negligible amounts in the Loire Valley in France.

Schioppettino

Richard Godin Schioppettino October 20, 2021January 8, 2000

The modern story of Schioppettino is quite wonderful. This grape, never grown outside the Udine sub-region of Friuli, near Trieste in northeastern Italy, all but disappeared after the late 19th century purge of phylloxera. In the 1970s, winemaker Paolo Rapuzzi heard several Prepotto village oldtimers reminiscing about a forgotten variety known as Schioppettino and set about trying to find if any vines still existed. He found several in the garden of the village mayor and a few others scattered throughout …

Shiraz

Richard Godin Shiraz October 20, 2021January 8, 2000

The name Shiraz became popular for the Syrah grape variety in Australia, where it has long been established as the most grown dark-skinned variety. Nowadays, Shiraz is generally the name given to more fruit-forward, spicy styles of Syrah, especially in Australia but also occasionally in South Africa.

Sicilia

Richard Godin Sicilia June 24, 2022January 8, 2000

The island of Sicily, the largest in the Mediterranean, is Italy’s fourth largest producing wine region. There have been considerable improvements in the region’s wines over the past 20 years. Much of the wine that used to go to beefing up anemic northern reds is now being bottled and proudly sold as Sicilian. However, the multitude of appellations (22 small DOCs and 1 DOCG) were terribly confusing and anyway produced only 5% of the island’s wine. In 2012 a new …

Sonoma Valley

Richard Godin Sonoma Valley October 20, 2021January 8, 2000

One of California’s most notable AVAs, located in the southern part of Sonoma County. It has a varied terroir and warm climate that specializes in Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Chardonnay. Sonoma Valley lies between the Mayacamas and Sonoma mountains and follows the Sonoma Creek for its entire length. It is influenced by its sheltered position between the hills as well as its proximity to San Pablo Bay to the south. The bay helps to moderate the normally-hot climate. Sonoma Valley’s …

South Africa

Richard Godin South Africa October 20, 2021January 8, 2000

With more than 350 years of winemaking history, South Africa is often described as a bridge between the Old and New Worlds. Most wines are made using New World winemaking techniques but often have more in common stylistically with their European counterparts. The country’s signature variety is Pinotage, which was crossed between Pinot Noir and Cinsault at Stellenbosch University in 1925. In addition, large amounts of Shiraz, Cabernet and Merlot are grown. Chenin Blanc, or Steen as it is known …

South Australia

Richard Godin South Australia October 20, 2021January 8, 2000

The state of South Australia once produced close to 75% of all Australian wines in the 1940s and 50s but with the massive country-wide expansion of the industry in the 70s and 80s, now produce just under 50%. The Barossa Valley, just west of Adelaide the state capitol is the industry’s historic centre but other regions nearby have also garnered considerable fame: McLaren Vale, Coonawarra, the Clare Valley are the most obvious examples. Newer, cooler regions such as the Adelaide …

South Eastern Australia

Richard Godin South Eastern Australia August 13, 2021January 8, 2000

South Eastern Australia is the huge Geographic Indication (GI) catchall that encompasses all of New South Wales, all of Victoria, and parts of Queensland and South Australia. It is, for the most part, used to label inexpensive, bulk and blended wines made anywhere within the designation but most often simply refers to wines made in the vast, irrigated plantings of Riverina or Riverland.