2019 Vernaccia Orriu sulle Bucce

The Quartomoro winery is located in the center of Sardinia, in Arborea, in the Oristano province. The project has started just over a decade ago, and it continues to be run by Piero Cella and Luciana Baso, a couple who share a passion for experimental winemaking. Piero Cella got his start working with Giacomo Tachis for 13 years throughout Italy, before returning to Sardinia to consult with many of the top wineries of the region. However, when the time came to start Quartomoro, his approach was significantly different. Here, the focus is fully on fruit and terroir, taking advantage of over 20 unique locations throughout the entire island to create their portfolio, which spans Vermentino, Vernaccia, Cannonau, Carignano and Bovale. Winemaking is low-intervention and strictly geared to communicate a sense of place and varietal purity. This can especially be seen through their Memorie di Vite (Vine Memories) lineup, all focused on native varieties grown at low yields, most often non-irrigated, bush-trained vines that are hand-picked, fermented using indigenous yeast and refined through transparent and low-impact winemaking practices. The range is constantly evolving, as the couple looks to source the absolute best representation of vine, vintage and terroir. At this time, Quartomoro is also in the middle of building their new winery, surrounded by two hectares of estate-owned vineyards in Marrubiu. The reds are especially of note for their balance and fresh personalities. In a region as warm and rugged as Sardinia, such harmony is seldom seen.