Attilio Rosé Wine by Vini Contini

Attilio Contini, one of the winery’s founders, could never have imagined his name would have become synonymous with conviviality. The ancient Nieddera variety, which is now a sparkling wine, is the perfect meeting of opposites that cannot live without each other: the sun and the moon, fire and air, the land and the sea.

Its bouquet is as subtle as a stolen kiss and as embracing as a refound kiss. Its pale pink colour is the colour of dawn over the sea, clear and unforgettable. Attilio Rosé adores aperitifs and prefers seafood. But it also gets on well with vegetables and meat, especially white meat.

About Us

First there was Salvatore, then Attilio, and today Paolo and his nephews, Alessandro and Mauro: the Contini winery has grown and aged, just like its wines, and enjoyed successes that have made it what it is today, thanks to the passion and commitment of no fewer than four generations. For 120 years, the Contini estatehas been inspired by a single guiding principle, Vernaccia di Oristano. Over the years, Vernaccia has been joined by other fine wines: the age-old Nieddera variety, traditional Vermentino and Cannonau wines, successful experiments like Karmis, the Attilio range, and the organic wine Mamaioa. 

Today the company produces a complete selection of wineswhich are sold throughout Italy and abroad. It is continuously evolving, introducing new winemaking techniques and ideas. Maybe that is why Contini wines stand the test of time, because they are loved and fondly remembered.

History

The long history of the Contini estate began in 1898, thanks to Salvatore Contini and his flair for business. At the time, the most widely produced wine was Vernaccia and Salvatore devoted his life and work to improving and promoting it. His efforts paid off: Salvatore was awarded the gold medal at the International Exhibition of Milan in 1912 for his Vernaccia di Oristano and in 1971 it was the first wine in Sardinia to be granted the official controlled designation of origin.

In the Thirties, Salvatore was joined by his son Attilio, who took over the running of the company on the eve of the Second World War. In the Sixties, the company, which until then had been a family-run business, decided to consolidate its position by purchasing grapes from local producers, thus increasing its production capacity. The Eighties were a turning point for the winery, because historical and social changes began to influence consumer lifestyles. During this transitional period, the Contini family identified a significant opportunity for growth. The winery decided to begin production of new wines aimed at a younger, more dynamic public, while remaining faithful to its ties with Sardinia. The estate’s long history continues.

Estates

The Contini family’s estates extend for around 100 hectares along the Sinis peninsula, in the Tirso Valley and on the slopes of Mount Arci: they are located in a stunning part of the island, where the quality of the soil only goes to make it even more special.

The mild winters and hot summers, afforded some relief by the cool mistral wind, create the perfect microclimate in the Sinis area forgrowing Vernaccia and Nieddera grapes. Here, in the Lower Tirso Valley, the soil is made up of pebbles and clay with silty and sandy sediments. The company has a large number of vineyards which have been managed by a group of well-established growers for many generations now, in line with the local vine-growing tradition.

A second group of vineyards covering roughly 50 hectares lies inland from the Gulf of Oristano on the slopes of Mount Arci. This area, with its very hot and dry summers and its mild but wet winters, is home to mainly Vermentino and Cannonau vines. The soil, which is ofvolcanic origin, is what makes this area so special because it has a high percentage of obsidian. This shiny black volcanic glass has played an important part in the history of the area since Neolithic times. It was collected and used to make weapons and tools for cutting and working. For several millennia, up to the Bronze Age, obsidian was an essential resource, to the extent it was considered the “black gold” of the Mediterranean. This soil, rich in subsoil and loam, almost like talc due to the crumbling obsidian, gives Contini’s Cannonau and Vermentini wines a very original personality, strengthening its ties with the land even more.

Over the past couple of years, the Contini estate has begun enlarging its estate and is involved in several projects in different parts of Sardinia which have a history of fine wines.

Gallura vineyards: it has some hectares in northern Sardinia where it grows Vermentino di Gallura grapes. The soil, made up of weathered granite, gives the Vermentino a distinctive mineral flavour.

Barbagia vineyards: it has some hectares of Cannonau vineyards. The land, weathered granite soil lying 600 metres above sea level, produces an elegant, fine wine with unmistakable aromas.

Organically managed vineyards: based on a model of sustainable development which espouses the principles of safeguarding and promoting resources and the environment, the company cultivates a vineyard in the north west of the island. Its white soil, which radiates the sun, gives the wines a distinctive fine and elegant character.

Website: Vini Contini