Sella & Mosca

Sella & Mosca was founded in 1899 by Erminio Sella, an engineer, and Edgardo Mosca, a lawyer, both from Piedmont. Their initial purpose was practical rather than vinous: supplying phylloxera-resistant rootstocks to a devastated European wine industry. The first vineyards were planted in 1901 and the winery was constructed in 1903. Over the following decades the estate transformed from a nursery operation into one of Italy's most significant wine producers. The founders left a lasting imprint on the land, constructing a full worker village complete with a school, church, and chapel on the estate grounds. The estate's distinctive logo draws from an Egyptian tomb motif, depicting grape pressing from the tomb of Mereruka.

• Founded 1899 as a phylloxera-resistant rootstock nursery; winery built 1903
• Owned by Campari Group from 2002 until 2016 acquisition by Terra Moretti for €62 million
• Terra Moretti also owns properties in Franciacorta and Tuscany
• Estate logo features an Egyptian grape-pressing motif from the tomb of Mereruka

The estate spans three geographically distinct zones across Sardinia. The main body of 520 hectares sits in the Nurra plain near Alghero in northwestern Sardinia, where calcareous, clayey, and sandy soils naturally rich in iron define the character of the wines. A further 15 hectares in Gallura in the northeast feature the granitic soils responsible for Vermentino di Gallura DOCG. The Sulcis parcel of 6 hectares in the southwest is planted on mineral-rich sand, ideal for Carignano. Elevations across the estates range from 50 to 600 meters. A Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and cool nights creates a wide diurnal range, and the Mistral wind tempers heat and reduces disease pressure across the vineyards.

• Three distinct Sardinian sub-estates: Nurra/Alghero (520 ha), Gallura (15 ha), Sulcis (6 ha)
• Soils range from calcareous and iron-rich clay at Alghero to granite in Gallura and sand in Sulcis
• Mediterranean climate tempered by Mistral winds; wide diurnal range preserves acidity
• Elevations from 50 to 600 meters across the full estate

Sella & Mosca produces red, white, rosé, and sparkling wines with a portfolio anchored in indigenous Sardinian varieties alongside select international grapes. Vermentino is the flagship white, produced under both the Vermentino di Sardegna DOC and the Vermentino di Gallura DOCG. Cannonau, Sardinia's dominant red variety, and Carignano from the Sulcis zone represent the core of the red wine range. The estate is also the sole commercial producer of 100% Torbato, a white grape it rescued from near extinction. International varieties including Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay round out the range; notably, Sella & Mosca pioneered the introduction of Cabernet Sauvignon to Sardinia in the late 1880s.

• Flagship whites: Vermentino di Sardegna DOC and Vermentino di Gallura DOCG
• Core reds: Cannonau di Sardegna DOC and Carignano del Sulcis DOC
• Torbato is produced exclusively by Sella & Mosca as a 100% varietal wine
• Estate pioneered Cabernet Sauvignon in Sardinia; also grows Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay

All Sella & Mosca vineyards are certified organic by ICEA and are farmed without synthetic pesticides. The combination of Mistral winds, sandy and well-drained soils, and the island's naturally dry climate supports organic viticulture across the entire estate. The estate has earned Gambero Rosso's Tre Bicchieri award in 12 of the last 15 vintages, placing it among Italy's most consistently decorated producers. Beyond wine, the estate operates a boutique hotel, restaurant, and enoteca for visitors, reflecting its historical character as a self-contained agricultural community.

• All vineyards certified organic by ICEA; no synthetic pesticides used
• Tre Bicchieri from Gambero Rosso awarded in 12 of the last 15 vintages
• Estate facilities include boutique hotel, restaurant, and enoteca
• Natural dry climate and Mistral winds support low-intervention viticulture