Cherchi 'Billia' Vermentino di Sardegna, Italy 2025
Founded in 1970 by Giovanni Cherchi — known affectionately as "Billia" — Vinicola Cherchi is one of Sardinia's most historically significant family estates. Operating from Usini in the province of Sassari, Giovanni Cherchi is credited as a pioneer of Sardinian viticulture: he championed indigenous varieties at a time when most producers were replacing native vines with international ones, reviving the near-extinct Cagnulari grape and establishing a clear identity for Vermentino di Usini long before either variety had wide commercial recognition. Today the estate is guided by his children Salvatore, Annalisa, and Maria, with Giovanni continuing to oversee vineyard and cellar work. The Billia bottling is a tribute to the founder himself, representing the estate's approachable, terroir-driven style.
- WINEMAKER: Salvatore, Annalisa, and Maria Cherchi
- FARMING: Sustainable; vineyard management prioritizes minimal chemical intervention, with sea breezes from the nearby Sassari coast providing natural ventilation and pest control
- VARIETY: 100% Vermentino
- TERROIR: Vineyards are situated on hilly terrain in Usini at approximately 200 meters above sea level, with soils composed of limestone and clay. The Logudoro hills surrounding Usini have a centuries-old vocation for viticulture. The combination of calcareous and clay subsoils, diurnal temperature variation, and Mistral-influenced coastal breezes contributes to wines of pronounced minerality and lifted aromatics.
- VINIFICATION: Grapes are destemmed, crushed, and gently pressed. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks at cool controlled temperatures using native yeasts.
- AGING: Stainless steel
- TASTING NOTES: Pale straw-yellow with greenish highlights. The nose offers white apple, citrus blossom, and delicate aromatic herb. On the palate, the wine is dry and fresh with lively acidity, saline minerality, and a clean, persistent finish.
- FOOD PAIRINGS: Shellfish, grilled branzino, seafood risotto, light antipasti, fresh cheeses
Cherchi 'Billia' Vermentino di Sardegna, Italy 2025
Founded in 1970 by Giovanni Cherchi — known affectionately as "Billia" — Vinicola Cherchi is one of Sardinia's most historically significant family estates. Operating from Usini in the province of Sassari, Giovanni Cherchi is credited as a pioneer of Sardinian viticulture: he championed indigenous varieties at a time when most producers were replacing native vines with international ones, reviving the near-extinct Cagnulari grape and establishing a clear identity for Vermentino di Usini long before either variety had wide commercial recognition. Today the estate is guided by his children Salvatore, Annalisa, and Maria, with Giovanni continuing to oversee vineyard and cellar work. The Billia bottling is a tribute to the founder himself, representing the estate's approachable, terroir-driven style.
- WINEMAKER: Salvatore, Annalisa, and Maria Cherchi
- FARMING: Sustainable; vineyard management prioritizes minimal chemical intervention, with sea breezes from the nearby Sassari coast providing natural ventilation and pest control
- VARIETY: 100% Vermentino
- TERROIR: Vineyards are situated on hilly terrain in Usini at approximately 200 meters above sea level, with soils composed of limestone and clay. The Logudoro hills surrounding Usini have a centuries-old vocation for viticulture. The combination of calcareous and clay subsoils, diurnal temperature variation, and Mistral-influenced coastal breezes contributes to wines of pronounced minerality and lifted aromatics.
- VINIFICATION: Grapes are destemmed, crushed, and gently pressed. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks at cool controlled temperatures using native yeasts.
- AGING: Stainless steel
- TASTING NOTES: Pale straw-yellow with greenish highlights. The nose offers white apple, citrus blossom, and delicate aromatic herb. On the palate, the wine is dry and fresh with lively acidity, saline minerality, and a clean, persistent finish.
- FOOD PAIRINGS: Shellfish, grilled branzino, seafood risotto, light antipasti, fresh cheeses