Cantina Mesa

Expressions of the soul of Sardinia

The name Mesa, which in both Sardinian and Spanish means “table”, sums up in just four letters the very soul of the winery. Nourishment, a meal among friends, maternal love, simplicity, and fragrant aromas: these are the archetypes of Sardinia. With this spirit in mind,

Mesa was founded as a declaration of love for Sardinia, as a marriage of beauty and goodness, as a celebration of the island’s generosity and of its culture, expressed through one of its most noble treasures, wine.

Mesa is the fulfilment of the dream of its founder, Gavino Sanna, Italy’s most celebrated and award-winning advertising professional: a dream of creating something as extraordinary, unique and bold as his island, and thereby promoting his land of origin.

As Sanna says, “This is a terroir with a mother’s generosity, a land that holds nothing back: its riches and subtleties, its flavours and fragrances, its soul and wisdom. A place where sea and sky form a single source of light, where vines grow on hillsides pampered by caring nature, lulled by the sun and caressed by a wind permeated with the scents of the sea and the Mediterranean hinterland. The story of a land with a culture of hard physical work, but imbued with love and dedication, and steeped in tradition.”

Mesa is situated in the area of Sant’Anna Arresi, on the slopes of a valley sheltered from the northwesterly winds and surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea. It overlooks the plain of “medaus” (little country settlements, typical of the Sulcis zone) and the inlet of the promontory of Porto Pino, named after the Aleppo pines that grow here.

It’s a magical place full of natural purity. Rare maritime flowers peek out from the cliffs. On the sand, large expanses of posidonia indicate that the environment is clean and healthy. With the echoes of their songs, pink flamingoes and kingfishers delight every tendril of the vines. Each grape breathes in an atmosphere of sunny, balmy peace.

Mesa’s vineyards extend for more than 78ha, of which 66ha are estateowned. The vines are trained using the Cordon Spur, Guyot and alberello (bush training) systems, depending on the local conditions and their orientation.

Mesa’s characteristic rounded bottles, fun yet at the same time severe, take their shape from the silhouette of Sardinian women when they wear their traditional costume. The designs of the wine labels, on the other hand, are inspired by old Sardinian tapestries: creations of a patient, silent art that evolves over time, just like wine. At Mesa, form and content are the same.

Vermentino, Mesa’s gold

Vermentino is a semi-aromatic white variety that has been successful in adapting itself to various environments in Sardinia, as it is resistant to the island’s hot, dry summers. It produces wines ranging from those with a fresh, vegetal style to others with notes of ripe and exotic fruit, along with infinite nuances of flowers and Mediterranean scrubland. On the palate it offers a gamut of rich and appealing sensations, in which freshness and tanginess set off a sustained level of alcohol, making Vermentino one of Italy’s most popular indigenous varieties. It has found a natural habitat in the Sulcis area, to the extent that Mesa’s Vermentino is an expression not only of its distinctive terroir, but also of the brand’s house style, composed of elegance and luminous clarity.

Carignano, the icon of the Sulcis area

The Carignano grape finds its Italian home in Sardinia. To be precise, mostly and most successfully in the Sulcis zone, where it was given DOC status (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) in 1977. There is some controversy regarding how this grape made its way here, but most probably it was introduced in the Middle Ages, during the Spanish dominion of the island. Whatever the truth, this variety seems to have adapted itself perfectly to the rather extreme soil and climatic conditions of the Sulcis area. Few other varieties would in fact be able to cope with the particular salinity, the high temperatures and the long periods of drought that are typical of this region.

Many of Mesa’s oldest vineyards are planted, with bush-like alberellotrained vines that have never been grafted onto other rootstocks. Here the Mediterranean Sea has a favourable influence on temperatures, mitigating the heat of summer. The marine breezes refresh the vines and the salty air gives freshness and vivacity to the flavours of Carignano, favouring its delicious, easy-drinking style. The constant winds also play an important role in preventing fungal diseases deriving from the humidity, thus guaranteeing the cultivation of healthy grapes.