Touring territories, wineries and farmhouses in Monteacuto
A tour in the historical-geographical sub-region of Monteacuto in Sardinia, which is located in the north-east of the island, just below Gallura, can give us a food and wine experience by discovering traditions and culture of this territory, the name of which derives from the hill located in the municipality of Berchidda, used in Roman times as a fortified lookout point, which in the Middle Ages became a real castle. In the Spanish period the area formed an administrative unit (Encontrada Monteaguto). The main inhabited center of the sub-region, which goes from Monte Santo almost to Olbia, is that of the municipality of Ozieri. All the municipalities in the area currently belong to the province of Sassari, an administrative district being abolished in favor of the province of North-East Sardinia.
Those leaving from the Italian mainland can find it very convenient to take a ship to Olbia, from whose port a food and wine tour can begin to discover the flavors of Monteacuto. The ports of departure from the Italian peninsula are those of Livorno and Civitavecchia all year round, Genoa from May to October and Piombino from June to September. Tickets for the Livorno – Olbia ferries can be purchased online at the link for the route and should not be converted into a boarding pass at the port ticket office, as you can go directly alongside to check-in for boarding with a paper ticket or in digital format. Tickets for the Civitavecchia – Olbia ferries, which travel the shortest route to Sardinia, can also be booked at the link indicated, where, by setting the desired date, all the trips of the day can be viewed with the relative prices, timetables departure and arrival times and the shipping companies that perform them. The return journey can also be booked from the same page.
Immediately after disembarking, to go from Olbia to Berchiddeddu (the first stage) the route can also be done by bus, while to proceed towards the subsequent stages, if you are not traveling with a vehicle, you can take a taxi. The distance between Berchiddeddu and Padru is 16 kilometres, that between Padru and Monti is 32 kilometers and that between Monti and Berchidda is 16 kilometres. To return to Olbia from Berchidda, if you don’t have a car, you can take the train or the bus.
In addition to the cellars, where if you have to drive you only have at the most to taste and buy a bottle to take away; the itinerary includes agritourisms that offer both catering and accommodation services. In the Monti village company, there is both the cellar and the agritourism. In all cases it is always necessary to book in advance.
Berchiddeddu
The food and wine tour can begin in the hilltop village of Berchiddeddu, a fraction of about 1000 inhabitants in the municipality of Olbia. With the Padru valley it formed the barony of Saltos de Giosso of the Monteacuto district. Currently there are several wineries, dairy and beekeeping companies in the area. Conca di Olevà is the vineyard with cellar in the locality of Sa Conca of the agricultural society of the Mannazzu Brothers (telephone number 0789 50692), where both the Vermentino DOCG Superiore and the Cannonau DOC are vinified. A visit to the 12 hectares of vineyards, on a crumbling granite ground surrounded by cherry blossoms and wildflowers at an altitude of 300 meters and about 10 kilometers from the sea, also allows you to experience Sangiovese, Cagnulari, Muristellu, Carignano, Cabernet Souvignon and Merlot vines, all with tall saplings. The agritourism and farm “Sa Crescia Ezza” (telephone number 3357065508) is family-run and produces organically the raw materials that make the cuisine fresh and genuine.
Padru
The municipality of Padru, of about 2000 inhabitants, owes its name to the way of calling, in the dialect of Northern Sardinia, the area used as a temporary shelter for livestock in transhumance. The state forest of Monte Nieddu is part of the territory. The local economy is based on viticulture and beekeeping. The Augusto Mandras Winery (telephone 345 2155227) offers guided tours and tastings of the Orgherì, vinified from native and international black berried varieties, or the white Andìra, obtained from Vermentino grapes, as well as the Ticcu Dulche, produced by drying on the plant of Aleatico grapes. The five-hectare vineyard, where the autochthonous red Aleatico di Padru vine is grown, is located in the valley of the Lerno river. In the Boltei Agriturismo (telephone 338 6637179) cured meats and cheeses are without preservatives, the meat comes from the farm, the pasta is rolled out with a rolling pin, the eggs are fresh from the chicken and the vegetables are from the garden. In the shop inside the company it is also possible to buy honey, wine, myrtle, brandy, cheese, sausages and more.
Monti
The territory of the municipality of Monti, where just over 2000 people live and where the Monte Olia forest is present, is characterized by many vineyards, from which fine wines are made, and cork oaks. In the Cantina Tani – Agriturismo il Vermentino (telephone 335 472221), located in the locality of Conca sa raighina, you can taste the wines of the brand combined with the gastronomic tradition of Sardinia and spend a day among the vineyards, exposed to the brackish winds, and granites, between emotional itineraries with guided tours and tastings. The DOCG Superiore Taerra and the DOCG Meoru wines are produced from the Vermentino di Gallura vines, while the red Donosu and the rosé Vilú, both DOC, are produced from the Cannonau ones. Myrtle liqueur is produced with hand-picked wild berries. In the barrels of the cellar, not far from the tasting room, Serranu was born, the best wine in Italy at Vinitaly 2019.
Berchidda
The territory of the municipality of Berchidda extends between Monteacuto and Gallura, on the slopes of the granite mountain range of Limbara (300 meters above sea level), and it is largely characterized by a geological substratum of eruptive origin. The Giogantinu Cellar (telephone 079 704163) suggests the Wine Tour, a multi-sensory experience that includes a visit to the Wine Museum and the cellar rooms, an aperitif with sweet and savory dishes and tasting in the vineyard. Among the wines, we find the Lughente, Organic Vermentino di Gallura DOCG, the Terra Saliosa, a red Isola dei Nuraghi IGT without sulphites and the Cannonau di Sardegna DOC. In the terroir of the Un Mare Di Vino company (telephone 328 8395166) not only the Vermentino grapes thrive but also those of the Rosso dei Colli del Limbara IGT. The cuisine of the Nuovo Limbara hotel restaurant (telephone 079 704165) is typically local, characterized by the Berchiddese soup, fried ravioli, cheeses, cured meats and various types of bread.
