Aragosta (2024) - Santa Maria La Palma
Aragosta is the flagship wine of the Santa Maria La Palma winery, for decades paired with local fish and seafood. It is among the best-selling and most recognised Vermentino wines in Sardinia and Italy, so much so that it has become known simply as “the Aragosta”.
Aragosta (2024) - Santa Maria La Palma
Type: Vino Bianco
Area: Italy, Sardinia, Alghero
Appellation: Vermentino di Sardegna DOC
Grape variety: Vermentino
Vintage: 2024
Winery: Santa Maria La Palma
Alcohol: 12%
The appellation: Vermentino di Sardegna DOC
Vermentino di Sardegna DOC is one of the most representative appellations of Sardinian viticulture, established in 1988. This white wine, produced exclusively from Vermentino grapes grown across the island, reflects Sardinia’s unique character: a land kissed by the sun, caressed by the winds and surrounded by the sea.
Find out more about Vermentino di Sardegna DOCWhat to eat with Aragosta
Who makes it: Santa Maria La Palma
Founded in 1959 by around 100 local farmers in the Nurra area near Alghero, Cantina Santa Maria La Palma is today a thriving cooperative with around 300 members and 700 hectares under vine, one of the leading wine estates in Sardinia.The winery grew out of farming ingenuity and combines local tradition with modern production technology.
Find out more about Santa Maria La PalmaThe vine of Aragosta
Vermentino
Vermentino is a highly prized white grape variety, found mainly in the coastal regions of the Mediterranean. Its origin is debated, but it is thought to come from the Iberian peninsula or from Liguria, from where it would then have spread to Sardinia, Tuscany and Corsica. Today it is also grown in some areas of southern France.
Find out moreAragosta: the Alghero area
Alghero
Alghero, in the north-western part of Sardinia, is one of the island's most important wine districts. Thanks to its Mediterranean climate, its limestone soils and the influence of the sea breezes, the area produces fresh, savoury white wines, structured and intense reds and elegant sparkling wines. The Alghero DOC appellation protects the area's wine production and covers several native and international varieties, among them Vermentino, Torbato, Cannonau, Cagnulari and Cabernet Sauvignon. The historic presence of Catalan culture has left its mark on viticulture too, with Torbato, a rare grape variety distinctive to the area.
Find out more about AlgheroClimate: Mediterranean
Altitude: Low Altitude (0-200 m above sea level)
Soil: Alluvial / Morainic
Geographical setting: Sea
Profile of Aragosta
Primary aromas: Citrus, White flowers, Mineral
Secondary aromas: citrus, White flowers, Marine and iodine notes
Tasting notes: This wine shows a bright straw-yellow colour, with golden reflections. On the nose it offers a fragrant, lively bouquet, with clear hints of fresh fruit such as green apple, lemon and a subtle touch of apricot. In the mouth it is dry, fresh and savoury, with a balanced return of citrus and white-fleshed fruit. It stands out for its minerality and excellent body, closing with a long, pleasantly bitterish finish. Perfect for seafood starters and fish dishes.
| Sulphites | yes |
| Body | Fresh |
| Acidity | Medium-high |
| Tannin | Absent |
| Sweetness | Dry |
| Finish | Media |
| Colour | Pale straw yellow |
| Clarity | Clear |
Winemaking methods used for Aragosta
Hand harvesting
Hand harvesting is a traditional, painstaking approach to picking, where bunches are selected and cut by hand straight from the vine. Compared with machine harvesting it allows far closer attention to quality, since only the best bunches are chosen and the fruit is not damaged.
Find out moreTemperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel
Temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel is a technique that makes it possible to produce fresh, fruity, clean wines, preserving the varietal aromas of the grapes at their best.
Find out moreWhite winemaking
White winemaking is a technique that makes it possible to obtain white wines from both white and black grapes, avoiding contact between the must and the skins. This process emphasises the freshness, aromatic purity and finesse of the wine, preserving its fruity and floral notes and avoiding the extraction of tannins and anthocyanins. Used for the production of dry, aromatic and sparkling white wines, white winemaking involves temperature-controlled fermentation in order to maintain the integrity of the aromas and of the wine's natural acidity.
Find out moreAgeing methods used for Aragosta
In stainless steel (1–6 months)
Ageing in stainless steel for 1 to 6 months is a winemaking practice widely used for young, fresh, varietal wines, aimed at preserving the aromatic fragrance and gustatory integrity of the wine immediately after fermentation. This choice allows the wine to be stabilised, to settle naturally and to be ready for drinking within a few months, retaining vitality, tension and precision.
Find out more