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Vancouver Sun
31-05-2025
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
Anthony Gismondi: These Italian white wines will entertain you all summer
Last week, several Italian producers visited the city for the annual Tre Bicchieri, or 'Three Glasses,' trade tasting. This prestigious award is the highest rating given by Gambero Rosso, a prominent Italian food and wine media organization that releases an annual list of Italy's best wines. Industry experts blind-taste thousands of wines and score each with one glass for good, two for very good and three glasses, or Tre Bicchieri, for wines deemed the best, often limited to fewer than 500 wines each year. Most winners have a Tre Bicchieri sticker on their label. Given the surge in white-wine interest worldwide and the impending arrival of summer, I used the event to taste mostly white wines. The switch to white from red wine, while slow and steady, is becoming more of a rush each day. We recently reported that the Rhone Valley plans to triple its white wine output by 2030, and Beaujolais producers are talking about similar changes. Discover the best of B.C.'s recipes, restaurants and wine. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of West Coast Table will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The Italians have long made interesting whites that were seldom exported until now, but with soaring global travel and a New World market of Chardonnay, Sauvignon and pinot Gris in need of an energy injection, Italy has become a go-to white wine producer, especially for those who enjoy wine with their food. Today, we present a short list of Italian whites to entertain you all summer, but know that some go by a different name than the grape used to make them. Many are available in private wine stores; others are in B.C. Liquor stores. You can do some online sleuthing or ask your retailer for help finding them. • Timorasso — Piedmont: Timorasso is experiencing a renaissance, gaining attention for its complexity, aging potential, and mineral-driven profile. It was among the most awarded white wines in the 2025 Gambero Rosso guide, known for its floral nose, bright acidity and honey/almond flavours. • Vermentino — Tuscany & Sardinia: Vermentino, or Rolle in France, is having a moment as consumers find themselves attracted to its refreshing citrus flavours and palate-cleansing salinity in the finish. It is a superb wine for seafood, pesto pasta and anything with fennel. • Pecorino — Abruzzo & Marche: Pecorino has aromatic intensity and structure, but a similarly high level of acidity always balances its higher sugar content. That combination gives it more volume in the mouth, making it more age-worthy and complex. It's an excellent wine for the dinner table. • Fiano — Campania: Fiano di Avellino continues to impress with its nutty, floral character and richer, almost waxy texture. It is often labelled Fiano di Avellino, whose fans love its primary flavours of Asian pear, hazelnuts, honeydew melon and orange peel. • Soave — Veneto: Soave has slowly but surely overcome its bland reputation thanks to some quality focused producers. The Garganega grape is the key driver of a dry, crisp, fruity profile, pitching a mix of citrus, apple, white peach and pear. Think grilled fish, seafood risotto or chicken Alfredo. It is time for another look. • Lugana — Lombardy/Veneto: The Lugana wines were a big hit at the tasting, but will require a private wine store hunt. The wine is mainly made from the Turbiana grape, which follows the theme with its crisp acidity, nutty, floral and full-bodied profile that pairs wonderfully with lobster or crab. There you have it, and we just scratched the surface. Here in B.C., you can add Roussillon, Albarino, Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Trebbiano, Gruner Veltliner, Semillon and more on the way. We only need warmer weather to open the patio and kick off summer. $21.99 I 89/100 UPC: 8033413003063 Forget the cheese, this wine derives its name from the Italian word for sheep, 'Pecora,' which graze on the golden grapes. The wine's intoxicating aromas blend wild honey and citrus with notes of almonds, pears with a stony mineral base and some Mediterranean wild herbs. In B. C, this is a terrific mussel wine, or you could serve it with a piece of aged pecorino cheese or roasted turkey. $21.99 I 90/100 UPC: 8010544110754 This respected estate, located on the island of Sardinia, focuses on native varieties. The vermentino grape comes from cool, hillside vineyards situated 190 metres above the Mediterranean. The nose is a subtle mix of floral aromas with hints of lemon and ginger. It features bitter quince and ripe stone fruit flavours, balanced by a sweet tangerine finish. This wine pairs well with seafood dishes, including squid, crab, clams and mussels. Start the party. $24.00 I 93/100 UPC: 681714160015 I tasted this on the heels of it receiving 96 points, a gold medal and Best in Class at the L.A. International Wine Competition. It opens with a rich aromatic nose and vibrant fruity palate. Notes of tinned pineapple, green apple and spice intermingle with sweeter honeysuckle notes and ripe papaya. The balance is acidity-led in the back end, with crisp orchard fruit and a wisp of Okanagan desert scrub. It is delicious and more than capable of accompanying richly flavoured menu items. Think of Asian dishes, local baked salmon or slow-roasted pork. Impressive. $24.99 I 89/100 UPC: 776545502148 Grown in Willamette Valley and processed in Kelowna at the CedarCreek winery, it has been fermented primarily in stainless steel (90 per cent) to maintain its fresh profile, with a touch of neutral oak (10 per cent) for added depth and a supple mid-palate. It is a very friendly version of pinot Gris with a 7.3 per cent bump of residual sugar that matches the acidity, balancing the wine. It is reminiscent of many Oregon pinot Gris that are always a more fruity than super fresh. $39.99 I 90/100 UPC: 8022888956011 Feudi di San Gregorio Pietra Calda highlights the Fiano di Avellino grape. It gains texture and complexity after four to five months on its lees with frequent bâtonnage. The wine has a floral nose that evolves into guava, mineral, citrus, quince and anise aromas. It offers green apple, mineral, lime and nectarine flavours in a distinct bottle, designed by Italian legend Massimo Vignelli. It makes it a perfect birthday gift. • The B.C. Crab Fishermen's Association and the Chefs' Table Society of B.C. present the False Creek Crab Fest on July 6, from noon to 5 p.m. at False Creek Fishermen's Wharf. This event features a Dungeness Crab boil by local chefs Vish Mayekar and Johnny Bridge, with beverages from local partners. Attendees can connect with regional fishers, while enjoying waterfront views, live music, games and family activities. Early Bird Tickets are $65 per person, plus taxes, until June 8, and include a crab plate, sweet treat and two beverage tastings. For tickets and more information, visit False Creek Crab Fest . All proceeds go to the ongoing programs the society puts on for local chefs. • The music is back at Blasted Church on their sun-drenched patio overlooking peaceful Skaha Lake. The lineup of artists is available on their website and runs every Sunday and a few Saturdays until the end of September. Chef John Burke will also have light bites and tasty treats to pair with winemaker Evan Saunders' wines. Saunders has been flying under the radar, but his wines are impressive and improving in leaps and bounds every season. Regular tasting hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; the final tasting is at 4 p.m. Reservations are available online or by calling 250-497-1125. $25.00 I 91/100 UPC: 696852197922 This particular Sauvignon Blanc presents a pronounced lemon aroma permeating its nose and early palate. Although there is a subtle hint of grassiness, this wine resembles Sancerre more closely than New Zealand, contributing to its intellectual and sensory charm. Midpalate offers a juicy, watery note that slides down easily before ending in a clean finish, preparing the palate for its next bite. It is an excellent choice for summer and pairs exceptionally well with any dish that benefits from a squeeze of lemon. Well done, JoieFarm. $16.99 I 87/100 UPC: 3760040432113 It is a rare wine that remains close to the same price year after year while seemingly improving, but that is the story of this humble rosé. Made by Jean Claude Mas, who is serious about wine no matter the price, this litre-bottle of juicy, fruity rosé boasts a pale pink colour with strawberry and raspberry notes that will charm you and your guests, especially on a warm patio. The Grenache, cinsault and Syrah mix has all the elements to deliver what Jean Claude refers to as 'Le Luxe Rural.' It's a terrific value that transforms any patio into a luxurious country setting.
Perth Now
01-05-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
REVEALED: The $60 wine voted best in WA
A wine-making duo from Pemberton and their juicy yet delicate pinot noir has come up trumps in WA's first people's choice wine award. More than 20,000 votes were cast in the inaugural WA Top 100 Wine Awards, with the $60 bottle from Ampersand Estate proclaimed No.1 when winners were announced on Wednesday night at Fremantle's Urban Winery. Rounding out the top five behind Ampersand's pinot noir were Stella Bella Luminosa's cabernet sauvignon, Cherubino's ad hoc nitty gritty pinot grigio, Cullen Wines' legendary Diana Madeline and LS Merchants' Vermentino. Your local paper, whenever you want it. Wineries big and small were able to be considered for the awards, as long as the wine was from WA and a 2024 vintage. 'To see so many people vote to support their favourite wineries is amazing,' organiser Jamie Burnett said. After more than 20-thousand votes, the Top Up Wines Top 100 has been revealed with Ampersand Estates Pinot Noir named WA's favourite drop. Credit: Supplied FRANCES ANDRIJICH 'When we turned voting on, we had no idea what results would come. That was the fun of it. I'm stoked to see such a diverse list of wines and wineries make the Top Up Wines Top 100.' Chardonnay was voted the State's preferred wine style, with cabernet sauvignon and pinot noir not far behind. Ampersand Estates was founded by Melissa Bell and Corrie Scheepers in 2020. The estate was formerly known as Donnelly River Winery before the pair purchased and rehabilitated the Peerabeelup site. Mr Burnett started Top Up Wines alongside industry veteran Scott Spalding and former West Coast premiership player Chris Masten, who has comfortably swapped footballs for a wine glass in recent years. Former West Coast premiership player Chris Masten. Credit: Supplied 'The great thing about Top Up is it throws it over to the people,' Mr Masten said. 'You don't have to be a somm, you just have to like what you like.' WA Wines executive officer Larry Jorgensen said the people's choice format was a huge success, given it drew entries from all nine WA wine regions.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Yahoo
How to plan a weekend in Gallura, Sardinia
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). 'Sardinia is out of time and history', D H Lawrence wrote in his 1921 travel book Sea and Sardinia. 'This land resembles no other place.' More than a century later, his words still ring true in Gallura, which spreads north of the city of Olbia in the Italian island's mountainous north east. Although the region is best known for the blue water and white sands of its high-end Costa Smeralda or 'Emerald Coast', elsewhere it has a raw beauty. Wild boars roam its forested interior, where vine-clad hills produce zesty Vermentino wines that taste of sunshine and the sea. Gallura's name is derived from the word 'gaddùra', meaning 'stony area' in the local dialect, and its landscapes are defined by granite — from giant boulders dotting wave-lashed headlands to otherworldly valleys hiding nuraghi (towering, cone-shaped Bronze Age structures). Scattered in between are rock-hugging villages, where artisans make and-knotted carpets, pottery and food the old-fashioned way — inspired by nature and deeply rooted in island traditions. MorningRise early for a short hike to Roccia dell'Orso, set high on a promontory at Sardinia's northeastern tip. Whittled by the elements over 300 million years, 'Bear Rock' was used by ancient mariners as a navigation aid. Pick your way through fragrant myrtle, broom and mastic, eyes wide for wheeling buzzards and kestrels overhead. At the top, the rock opens into a cave with killer views over the Strait of Bonifacio to the pink-granite Maddalena Islands. Afterwards, cool off swimming in the waters at nearby Cala Capra, a blonde bay fringed by evergreen scrub. For a seafood lunch, score a terrace table at Il Paguro, where specialities include lobster, and fregola pasta with saffron and king scampi. AfternoonHead north west to the 19th-century military fort Fortezza di Monte Altura, glimpsing Corsica from its battlements. Palau, its seaside-town setting, also offers myriad action-packed ways to get wet — surfing, SUP and windsurfing — plus boat trips to explore the Maddalena Islands. The archipelago's caverns, shipwrecks and fish-filled reefs are surrounded by some of the Mediterranean's clearest waters; divers often spot dolphins, barracudas, lobsters, octopuses and moray eels. For a more mellow afternoon, head to one of the knockout beaches such as La Licciola, with its powdery white sands, or coves like secluded Spiaggia di Talmone. EveningAs sunset paints the sky pastel, swing north west to the lighthouse at Capo Testa, an otherworldly headland where trails thread among weird, weather-beaten granite rock formations. The site's powerful atmosphere attracts everyone from meditating Tibetan monks to summer festival-goers. Stop at nearby bar-restaurant Martini Beach for a sea-facing aperitivo before heading to the nearby coastal town of Santa Teresa di Gallura, where brightly painted houses line roller coaster streets and cafes surround a piazza. Book dinner at Pema for pretty Sardinian dishes that sing of the sea, such as octopus with 'nduja, seasonal veg and helichrysum-flower butter. MorningDetour into Gallura's silent, cork oak-cloaked interior to see the region at its most traditional. Aggius, a village at the foot of ragged granite peaks, is famous for choral music, hand-woven rugs and — until the 1990s — banditry, all of which is explored at its two museums. The Wild West theme continues in nearby Moon Valley, where the winds of time have licked huge boulders into bizarre shapes. Drive or bike along the SP47, stopping at the lookout for stirring views. This is also the trailhead for a scenic, hour-long walk to Nuraghe Izzana, one of Gallura's most evocative Bronze Age ruins. On the road south, keep an eye out for Il Frate Incappucciato, a rock shaped like a hooded friar. AfternoonBy now you'll have worked up an appetite for a feast at family-run Agriturismo Santu Petru, perched amid olive trees high above the sea and with arresting views out across to Isola Rossa. Book lunch ahead to enjoy farm-fresh produce in dishes like slow-roasted suckling pig, infused with myrtle, and seadas (deep-fried dumplings filled with sweet ricotta and drizzled with honey). If you can still move afterwards, head north to the Costa Rossa, named for its rosy hue at sunset. Skirted by scrub and dunes, La Marinedda beach is a scoop of fine white sand shelving into a turquoise sea. Flop onto a lounger, climb over rocks to nearby coves or rent a surfboard, paddleboard or canoe from the little shack on the beach. EveningWelcoming, family-run winery Cantina Li Duni is located so close to the sea that you taste it in its grapes. These produce elegant, minerally Vermentino whites, fresh Cannonau reds, rosés and crisp, dry sparkling wines. Cellar tours end in tastings paired with a platter of local breads, cheeses, olives and salumi, while the terrace views are of vine-ribbed countryside. Head to nearby Calypso Beach Club for a DJ-soundtracked sunset, then spend the evening wandering the historic alleys of Castelsardo. For dinner with a view of the medieval castle, book a table at L'Incantu. Its seasonal menu dives deep into Gallurese flavours via dishes like stuffed pasta with tomato and basil. Nuraghe MaioriThe hill town of Tempio Pausania sits in the shadow of 4,469ft Monte Limbara, Gallura's highest peak. Head north along the SS133 for 1.5 miles, then along an unpaved track, to find one of Sardinia's best-preserved Neolithic settlements: Nuraghe Maiori. Perched atop a granite dome, with a central tower and concentric walls, the structure is one of around 7,000 rough-stone nuraghi (conical stone towers) that dot the island. While their exact purpose is unknown, it's believed they were used for communal gatherings, burial rites and religious ceremonies. Arrive at 10am, when it opens to visitors, for a quieter, cooler visit, borrowing a torch from the ticket office to spot the rare lesser horseshoe bats living in its chambers. ArzachenaThis charming town was once at the heart of Gallura's Nuragic culture, and the pastures, vineyards and olive groves that surround it are still littered with ruins, tombs and megaliths. Showstoppers include the Nuraghe di Albucciu, whose granite roof is flat instead of having the usual conical shape; the Giants' Tomb of Coddu Vecchiu, a megalithic grave with an oval central standing stone; and the fortified village of Nuraghe La Prisgiona, with views over vine-ribboned hills. While you're in the area, stop by the striking Monti Incappiddatu, an enormous, mushroom-shaped rock beaten into form by the elements over 300 million years. Most sites are open Easter to October, plus in winter on request, and offer English-speaking tours. Roccia dell'ElefanteJust a seven-minute drive inland from the hilltop town of Castelsardo, the famous Elephant Rock is an instant attention-grabber. Sculpted by wind and water over millennia, the 13ft-high trachyte boulder hangs its shapely trunk over the SS134 road. But the monolith's real wonders lie within — cut deep into the volcanic rock, with square-shaped entrances, are two pre-Nuragic chamber tombs dating to around 3200–2800 BCE. Their name, Domus de Janas, translates as 'the houses of the fairies' and, according to Sardinian legend, they're inhabited by mischievous sprite-like creatures who weave golden threads by the moonlight and keep watch over sleeping children. 1. Cala Serena, Isola di CapreraThis Maddalena archipelago island was the last refuge of Italian revolutionary Garibaldi and its pink-granite cove ticks all the castaway boxes, with a smile of sand sliding into turquoise water. It's reached by a short walk from Cala Garibaldi. 2. Rena MajoreScenes in Disney's 2023 film The Little Mermaid were shot on this idyllic half-moon of flour-white sand and gemstone-blue water, accessed by a pine-forested trail. Arrive early for maximum beach space. 3. Li FeruliA boardwalk rambles over the dunes to this long arc of pale sand, rarely busy outside peak season. Come for the pounding surf and quietly dreamy views across the Gulf of Asinara. 4. Cala SpinosaAt the foot of the wild rocks of Capo Testa, this ruggedly beautiful cove has tempting waters for swimming and snorkelling. Protective cliffs lessen the wind's impact and there are sublime views over the Strait of Bonifacio. 5. Cavaliere, Budelli islandThe Maddalena Islands' 'pink beach' is off limits, so admire its protected shores from the floury sands of this equally lovely granite-wrapped cove. Arrive by boat and leap straight in. Published in the April 2025 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK).To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only).
National Geographic
14-04-2025
- National Geographic
How to plan the perfect trip to this hidden corner of Sardinia
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). 'Sardinia is out of time and history', D H Lawrence wrote in his 1921 travel book Sea and Sardinia. 'This land resembles no other place.' More than a century later, his words still ring true in Gallura, which spreads north of the city of Olbia in the Italian island's mountainous north east. Although the region is best known for the blue water and white sands of its high-end Costa Smeralda or 'Emerald Coast', elsewhere it has a raw beauty. Wild boars roam its forested interior, where vine-clad hills produce zesty Vermentino wines that taste of sunshine and the sea. Gallura's name is derived from the word 'gaddùra', meaning 'stony area' in the local dialect, and its landscapes are defined by granite — from giant boulders dotting wave-lashed headlands to otherworldly valleys hiding nuraghi (towering, cone-shaped Bronze Age structures). Scattered in between are rock-hugging villages, where artisans make and-knotted carpets, pottery and food the old-fashioned way — inspired by nature and deeply rooted in island traditions. Day 1: Bays & bizarre rocks Morning Rise early for a short hike to Roccia dell'Orso, set high on a promontory at Sardinia's northeastern tip. Whittled by the elements over 300 million years, 'Bear Rock' was used by ancient mariners as a navigation aid. Pick your way through fragrant myrtle, broom and mastic, eyes wide for wheeling buzzards and kestrels overhead. At the top, the rock opens into a cave with killer views over the Strait of Bonifacio to the pink-granite Maddalena Islands. Afterwards, cool off swimming in the waters at nearby Cala Capra, a blonde bay fringed by evergreen scrub. For a seafood lunch, score a terrace table at Il Paguro, where specialities include lobster, and fregola pasta with saffron and king scampi. Afternoon Head north west to the 19th-century military fort Fortezza di Monte Altura, glimpsing Corsica from its battlements. Palau, its seaside-town setting, also offers myriad action-packed ways to get wet — surfing, SUP and windsurfing — plus boat trips to explore the Maddalena Islands. The archipelago's caverns, shipwrecks and fish-filled reefs are surrounded by some of the Mediterranean's clearest waters; divers often spot dolphins, barracudas, lobsters, octopuses and moray eels. For a more mellow afternoon, head to one of the knockout beaches such as La Licciola, with its powdery white sands, or coves like secluded Spiaggia di Talmone. Evening As sunset paints the sky pastel, swing north west to the lighthouse at Capo Testa, an otherworldly headland where trails thread among weird, weather-beaten granite rock formations. The site's powerful atmosphere attracts everyone from meditating Tibetan monks to summer festival-goers. Stop at nearby bar-restaurant Martini Beach for a sea-facing aperitivo before heading to the nearby coastal town of Santa Teresa di Gallura, where brightly painted houses line roller coaster streets and cafes surround a piazza. Book dinner at Pema for pretty Sardinian dishes that sing of the sea, such as octopus with 'nduja, seasonal veg and helichrysum-flower butter. The Martini Beach restaurant with ocean view offers a scrumptious seafood supper. Photograph by Martini Beach Day 2: Road trips & vineyards Morning Detour into Gallura's silent, cork oak-cloaked interior to see the region at its most traditional. Aggius, a village at the foot of ragged granite peaks, is famous for choral music, hand-woven rugs and — until the 1990s — banditry, all of which is explored at its two museums. The Wild West theme continues in nearby Moon Valley, where the winds of time have licked huge boulders into bizarre shapes. Drive or bike along the SP47, stopping at the lookout for stirring views. This is also the trailhead for a scenic, hour-long walk to Nuraghe Izzana, one of Gallura's most evocative Bronze Age ruins. On the road south, keep an eye out for Il Frate Incappucciato, a rock shaped like a hooded friar. Afternoon By now you'll have worked up an appetite for a feast at family-run Agriturismo Santu Petru, perched amid olive trees high above the sea and with arresting views out across to Isola Rossa. Book lunch ahead to enjoy farm-fresh produce in dishes like slow-roasted suckling pig, infused with myrtle, and seadas (deep-fried dumplings filled with sweet ricotta and drizzled with honey). If you can still move afterwards, head north to the Costa Rossa, named for its rosy hue at sunset. Skirted by scrub and dunes, La Marinedda beach is a scoop of fine white sand shelving into a turquoise sea. Flop onto a lounger, climb over rocks to nearby coves or rent a surfboard, paddleboard or canoe from the little shack on the beach. Evening Welcoming, family-run winery Cantina Li Duni is located so close to the sea that you taste it in its grapes. These produce elegant, minerally Vermentino whites, fresh Cannonau reds, rosés and crisp, dry sparkling wines. Cellar tours end in tastings paired with a platter of local breads, cheeses, olives and salumi, while the terrace views are of vine-ribbed countryside. Head to nearby Calypso Beach Club for a DJ-soundtracked sunset, then spend the evening wandering the historic alleys of Castelsardo. For dinner with a view of the medieval castle, book a table at L'Incantu. Its seasonal menu dives deep into Gallurese flavours via dishes like stuffed pasta with tomato and basil. The granite rocks at Spiaggia Valle della Luna, along Gallura's Moon Valley coast, add an impressive background for a swim. Photograph by Daniel Schoenen, Getty Images Discover more stories in stone Nuraghe Maiori The hill town of Tempio Pausania sits in the shadow of 4,469ft Monte Limbara, Gallura's highest peak. Head north along the SS133 for 1.5 miles, then along an unpaved track, to find one of Sardinia's best-preserved Neolithic settlements: Nuraghe Maiori. Perched atop a granite dome, with a central tower and concentric walls, the structure is one of around 7,000 rough-stone nuraghi (conical stone towers) that dot the island. While their exact purpose is unknown, it's believed they were used for communal gatherings, burial rites and religious ceremonies. Arrive at 10am, when it opens to visitors, for a quieter, cooler visit, borrowing a torch from the ticket office to spot the rare lesser horseshoe bats living in its chambers. Arzachena This charming town was once at the heart of Gallura's Nuragic culture, and the pastures, vineyards and olive groves that surround it are still littered with ruins, tombs and megaliths. Showstoppers include the Nuraghe di Albucciu, whose granite roof is flat instead of having the usual conical shape; the Giants' Tomb of Coddu Vecchiu, a megalithic grave with an oval central standing stone; and the fortified village of Nuraghe La Prisgiona, with views over vine-ribboned hills. While you're in the area, stop by the striking Monti Incappiddatu, an enormous, mushroom-shaped rock beaten into form by the elements over 300 million years. Most sites are open Easter to October, plus in winter on request, and offer English-speaking tours. Roccia dell'Elefante Just a seven-minute drive inland from the hilltop town of Castelsardo, the famous Elephant Rock is an instant attention-grabber. Sculpted by wind and water over millennia, the 13ft-high trachyte boulder hangs its shapely trunk over the SS134 road. But the monolith's real wonders lie within — cut deep into the volcanic rock, with square-shaped entrances, are two pre-Nuragic chamber tombs dating to around 3200–2800 BCE. Their name, Domus de Janas, translates as 'the houses of the fairies' and, according to Sardinian legend, they're inhabited by mischievous sprite-like creatures who weave golden threads by the moonlight and keep watch over sleeping children. Piazza Risorgimento is the main square in Arzachena, a town with Neolithic roots. Photograph by Witold Skrypczak, Alamy Top five beaches 1. Cala Serena, Isola di Caprera This Maddalena archipelago island was the last refuge of Italian revolutionary Garibaldi and its pink-granite cove ticks all the castaway boxes, with a smile of sand sliding into turquoise water. It's reached by a short walk from Cala Garibaldi. 2. Rena Majore Scenes in Disney's 2023 film The Little Mermaid were shot on this idyllic half-moon of flour-white sand and gemstone-blue water, accessed by a pine-forested trail. Arrive early for maximum beach space. 3. Li Feruli A boardwalk rambles over the dunes to this long arc of pale sand, rarely busy outside peak season. Come for the pounding surf and quietly dreamy views across the Gulf of Asinara. 4. Cala Spinosa At the foot of the wild rocks of Capo Testa, this ruggedly beautiful cove has tempting waters for swimming and snorkelling. Protective cliffs lessen the wind's impact and there are sublime views over the Strait of Bonifacio. 5. Cavaliere, Budelli island The Maddalena Islands' 'pink beach' is off limits, so admire its protected shores from the floury sands of this equally lovely granite-wrapped cove. Arrive by boat and leap straight in. Of Sardinia's three airports, Olbia is the closest to the region, and is around an hour's drive south from Santa Teresa Gallura. Airlines including British Airways, Ryanair and EasyJet fly direct from UK cities including Bristol, Edinburgh, London and Manchester. Average flight time: 2h30m. ARST buses connect Gallura's main towns, but you'll need a hire car to venture further. Stay at Park Hotel & Spa in Cala di Lepre, which has views of the Golfo delle Saline, island-driven cuisine and a diverse range of activities. From €196 (£166), half-board. More info: This story was created with the support of Delphina Hotels & Resorts. Published in the April 2025 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK). To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only).
