Vinicola Cherchi
How to Say It
The Usini estate that rescued Cagnulari from extinction and put northwest Sardinia on the fine wine map.
Vinicola Cherchi is a pioneering Sardinian estate founded in 1970, credited with reviving the nearly extinct Cagnulari grape. Based in Usini near Sassari, the winery produces around 200,000 bottles annually across more than 10 labels, specializing in indigenous varieties shaped by a Mistral-influenced Mediterranean climate.
- Founded in 1970 by Giovanni Cherchi, known as 'Billia', starting with just 2 inherited hectares
- Located in Usini, northwest Sardinia, at approximately 200 meters elevation in Sassari Province
- Credited as the pioneer who rescued Cagnulari, a nearly extinct indigenous Sardinian grape, and brought it to commercial production
- One of the first producers to develop Vermentino di Usini as a distinct regional expression and to age Vermentino on lees
- Produces approximately 200,000 bottles annually across 10 or more labels
- Vineyards sit on calcareous and clay soils with limestone on southeast-facing slopes
- Uses Guyot pruning and vertical trellis training throughout the estate
History and Founding
Giovanni Cherchi, nicknamed 'Billia', established the estate in 1970 after inheriting 2 hectares of land in Usini, a small town in northwest Sardinia near Sassari. From this modest beginning, Cherchi built one of the most important wineries in the region, earning a reputation not just for quality but for cultural preservation. His most significant contribution was the rescue and commercialization of Cagnulari, an indigenous red grape that had fallen into near extinction. Without Cherchi's intervention, this variety may have disappeared entirely from Sardinia's viticultural heritage.
- Founded 1970 with just 2 hectares inherited by Giovanni 'Billia' Cherchi
- Located in Usini, northwest Sardinia, within Sassari Province
- Grew from a small family estate into a producer of 200,000 bottles annually
- Now operates with modern, state-of-the-art equipment including stainless steel tanks
Terroir and Viticulture
The estate sits at around 200 meters elevation in Usini, where the defining environmental force is the Mistral wind, a cold, dry wind that sweeps down from the northwest. This persistent breeze keeps humidity low, reduces disease pressure in the vineyards, and contributes directly to the mineral profile found in the wines, particularly the whites. Soils are calcareous and clay-based, with limestone concentrations on the southeast-facing slopes. Vines are trained using Guyot pruning on vertical trellis systems.
- Elevation of approximately 200 meters above sea level in Usini
- Mistral wind shapes the minerality profile of the wines
- Calcareous and clay soils with limestone on southeast slopes
- Guyot pruning and vertical trellis training used throughout
Wines and Varieties
Vinicola Cherchi focuses exclusively on indigenous Sardinian varieties: Vermentino for whites, and Cannonau and Cagnulari for reds. The estate produces under Cannonau di Sardegna DOC and Vermentino di Sardegna DOC, alongside bottlings of Cagnulari. Cherchi was among the first producers in Sardinia to treat Vermentino from Usini as a distinct expression and to age Vermentino on lees, a technique that adds texture and complexity. The range spans more than 10 labels, all dry in style.
- Produces Vermentino di Sardegna DOC, Cannonau di Sardegna DOC, and Cagnulari
- One of very few wineries cultivating and commercializing the Cagnulari grape
- Pioneer in lees aging for Vermentino, developing a signature Usini style
- All wines are dry; style focuses on expressing indigenous variety character
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Open in the app →Significance and Legacy
Vinicola Cherchi holds a distinct place in Sardinian wine history primarily because of the Cagnulari rescue. Giovanni Cherchi recognized that the variety was disappearing and took deliberate steps to preserve, cultivate, and eventually commercialize it, giving Cagnulari a commercial future it otherwise would not have had. Beyond Cagnulari, the estate helped define Vermentino di Usini as a recognized expression within the broader Vermentino di Sardegna DOC, demonstrating that terroir-specific identity within Sardinia's indigenous variety landscape was worth pursuing.
- Giovanni Cherchi is credited with single-handedly preserving Cagnulari from commercial extinction
- Helped establish Vermentino di Usini as a distinct expression within Sardinian wine
- Pioneered lees aging for Vermentino in the region
- Combines tradition with modern winery technology for consistent quality at scale
Vermentino from Cherchi shows bright citrus and stone fruit with saline, mineral edges driven by Mistral influence and lees texture when aged on the fine lees. Cagnulari delivers dark fruit, earthy character, and firm but integrated tannins typical of this rare indigenous Sardinian red variety.
- Vinicola Cherchi Vermentino di Sardegna$15-20Classic Usini Vermentino with citrus, saline minerality, and the lees texture Cherchi pioneered in the region.Find →
- Vinicola Cherchi Cannonau di Sardegna$20-30Structured Sardinian red showing dark fruit and earthy depth from Mistral-cooled, calcareous-soil vineyards.Find →
- Vinicola Cherchi Cagnulari$25-40One of the only commercially available expressions of this nearly extinct indigenous Sardinian red grape.Find →
- Founded 1970 in Usini, Sassari Province, northwest Sardinia; elevation approximately 200 meters
- Produces under Vermentino di Sardegna DOC and Cannonau di Sardegna DOC; also bottles Cagnulari outside DOC framework
- Giovanni Cherchi is credited with rescuing Cagnulari from near extinction and establishing its commercial production
- Pioneer in lees aging of Vermentino and in defining Vermentino di Usini as a distinct terroir expression
- Climate is Mediterranean with strong Mistral wind influence; soils are calcareous and clay with limestone on southeast slopes