According to an ancient legend, Vernaccia was born from the tears of Saint Giusta, patron saint of Oristano. The tears, fallen from the sky, became small vines that soon filled with bunches of grapes. From those bunches came the Vernaccia di Oristano, a great wine, honor and pride of Sardinia.
This ancient white grape variety appears to have been brought to the island by the Phoenicians. The name, however, is of Roman origin and derives from “uva vernacula,” meaning native grape. The Vernaccia di Oristano DOC owes its uniqueness to the natural oxidation process in oak barrels for three or more years. The regulations, established in 1971 and updated in 2001 and 2011, delimit the grape production area to certain territories within the Oristano province.
The color is golden yellow, slightly amber. The aroma is delicate, with hints of almond blossom. On the palate, it has a fine, warm flavor with a light and pleasant almond aftertaste. The alcohol content is 15°-16°. There are five types of Vernaccia di Oristano DOC, depending on the alcohol percentage and aging time: dry, superiore, superiore Riserva, fortified in dry or sweet varieties.
