Visit any island around the world and you’ll likely encounter a common thread that ties them all together: a proudly independent mindset coupled with a healthy skepticism of the mainland that governs them.
       Fortunately for those of us who cherish diversity in dialects, customs, and gastronomic traditions, this independence tends to result in a dedicated preservation of local culture. In Corsica, Sardinia, and Sicily, that extends to the cultivation of grapes and the production of wine. We import whites, rosés, and reds from these three islands—the first one governed by France and the other two by Italy—and, thrillingly, they resemble no wines made on the mainland, even if they occasionally feature grapes also grown there. Consider Clos Canarelli’s Corse Figari rosé. Seakissed and maquis-laden, this blend of native Sciaccarellu, Niellucciu (Corsican Sangiovese), and Grenache perfectly translates the windy coastal terroir of southern Corsica.
     Like Canarelli’s Figari rosé, Abbatucci’s Faustine rouge also blends Sciaccarellu and Niellucciu, just as our Sardinian selections feature grapes indigenous to the Mediterranean, like Cannonau (that is, Sardinian Grenache) and Vermentino. You’ll find that the expressions of these grapes hailing from Sardinia’s rugged interior are entirely distinct from Châteauneuf-du-Pape’s Grenache-based reds or the Vermentinos you’ll find along coastal mainland Italy, France, or even Corsica!
     The sampler’s final two wines come from one of the most culturally enthralling islands in the Mediterranean: Sicily. Vigneti Vecchio’s Carricante and Riofavara’s Nero d’Avola highlight the beautiful possibilities of the island’s great grapes. While the Carricante displays luscious flavors of wildflowers, saffron, beeswax, and Mediterranean herbs that could only come from Mount Etna, the Nero d’Avola presents dense black fruits, wild game and mint, and chewy tannins.
     Unique and enchanting, these six wines reflect all the beauty, independence, and distinctiveness of their island origins.