Marchese di Villamarina DOC Alghero 2015

With its 541 hectares under vine, the Sella & Mosca winery is one of the largest wine-growing areas on the entire continent and is one of the most famous and important wineries in Italy. It all began more than a century ago when engineer Erminio Sella, nephew of Minister Quintino of the Kingdom of Italy, and lawyer Edgardo Mosca met in Nauraghe Maiore, near Alghero. The two adventurous Piedmontese, attracted by the richness of the Sardinian land and the island's enchanting landscapes, bought 15 hectares of land and set up what was to become one of the most prestigious and historic wineries on the Italian wine scene. The first excavations, dating back to the foundation year of 1899, served to remove the large layer of sandstone boulders that populated the surface and prevented the vines from growing. Today, these stones make up and paint a fascinating landscape and some of them are also preserved in the estate's historical museum, which is divided into two sections. The first traces the ancient archaeological history dedicated to the Anghelu Ruju necropolis, while the other part focuses on the first 40 years of the estate's history, recounted through the photos and testimonies of the sons of the sons. The property first passed into the hands of the Campari group and was recently bought for 62 million euros by Vittorio Moretti, president of the Terra Moretti Group and patron of the Bellavista winery. The trademark symbolising Sella & Mosca depicts a bas-relief from ancient Egypt in which five men squeeze grapes using sticks. In addition to the estate in the province of Alghero, Sella & Mosca also adds 15 hectares in Gallura and 6 hectares in Sulcis. An astonishing variety of grape varieties are cultivated there, more than 1,500 biotypes, from local ones such as Vermentino, Cannonau, Torbato and Carignano del Sulcis, to international ones such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, which are flanked by a large number of Mediterranean plants such as maritime pines, palms and eucalyptus. Biodiversity and eco-sustainability are the philosophical principles that the estate has pursued uninterruptedly for years. The soils vary in morphological composition, but have in common a high amount of limestone, a sedimentary marine origin and a low amount of water. The climate is Mediterranean and very warm, constantly ventilated by pleasant breezes rising from the sea. From this unique scenario, characterised by exclusive environmental elements and a long wine-making tradition, come the most famous wines that, like few others, manage to express the essence of the Sardinian land.