Torbato
History relates that this vine landed in Spain in the wake of the Carthaginians and Phoenicians, who came from the Aegean sea basin, considered to be the place of origin of the great Malvasia family, a family in which Torbato is surely to be numbered. Subsequent eras saw the vine spread to areas around the Mediterranean basin, including Sardinia, where it was introduced during the period of Spanish dominion. Cultivation of the vine increased considerably during the 300-year period of Catalan occupation of the island. Most of the wine was exported to the court of the King of Aragon, where it was particularly appreciated. Nowadays, it is grown in a small, 900 hectare zone of Alghero, an area bearing clear signs of its Catalan past. Torbato is purely produced to obtain the eponymous wine, as well as a sparkling variety, both bearing the title of DOC Alghero. The wine is of a medium straw colour, with a taste which recalls minerals, white flowers and fruit. It is both lively and refreshing.
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DOC ALGHERO TORBATO |
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Vine |
Min. 85% Torbato, max. 15% other suitable non-aromatic |
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white grapes of Sardinian cultivation |
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Zone of production |
Alghero, Ittiri, Olmedo, Ossi, Tissi, Usini, and parts of Sassari |
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Grape yield |
Max. 140 quintals/hectare |
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Wine yield |
Max. 70% |
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Alcohol |
Min. 11.0° |
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Typology |
Sparkling min. 11.5° |
Torbato