Carignano del Sulcis is one of the most fascinating appellations on the Italian wine scene: a DOC that speaks of sea, wind, sand, rural tradition and resilience. It is a wine that is born in an extreme and fascinating territory, where viticulture is not only part of history, but becomes one of the most powerful vehicles to tell the soul of Sulcis, the southernmost part of Sardinia.
In recent years, the designation has been able to consolidate its identity and quality through constant selection, control and enhancement work. The certification activities recorded in 2024 show a careful, structured and transparent supply chain: 263 operators involved, 250 winegrowers, 19 winemakers and 13 bottlers; checks in the field and in the cellar. A result that reflects a collective commitment to high standards, an increasingly decisive element in international markets.
Certified production and a transparent supply chain
In a context where estimates can vary, the denomination can count on transparent and certified data. In 2024, the production recorded by Valoritalia amounts to 19,726 hectolitres, equivalent to approximately 2 million 0.75 L bottles, with 1,945,953 bottles bottled in the same year .
These numbers, physiologically contained, outline a wine that builds its value not on quantity, but on quality and territorial identity.
Sant'Antioco: the rarest and most precious heart of the denomination
Within Carignano del Sulcis there is an area that more than any other represents the authentic and unrepeatable origin of this vine: the island of Sant'Antioco. Here viticulture takes on an almost ancestral character. The vineyards - often on sand, exposed to sea winds and cultivated using traditional methods - are fragmented into small parcels, guarded by a constellation of small-scale producers.
This production structure, by its very nature, generates limited and highly fractioned quantities. And it is precisely this rarity that determines the natural trajectory of commercial positioning: the Carignano produced in Sant'Antioco must, inevitably, be placed in the premium end of the market.
In a wine world that prizes authenticity, territorial uniqueness and true stories, Sant'Antioco possesses all the characteristics to emerge as a distinctive DOC sub-identity. However, it is precisely the small scale of production that makes it complex to tackle international markets alone: no producer on the island, acting individually, can sustain a structured export path.
This is why the winning way is through collective and synergetic activities:
- coordinated participation in international trade fairs and tastings,
- joint projects to tell the story of the territory and its history,
- collaboration in digital communication and export strategies,
- sharing a common vision of quality and positioning.
Sant'Antioco is not only a place of production: it is a territorial brand in power, capable of becoming the most authentic ambassador of Carignano del Sulcis in the world, provided it is valorised through a choral and not fragmented approach.
Established markets and new opportunities
Today, Carignano del Sulcis maintains a solid foothold in the domestic market and in the European markets where it is best known: Switzerland, Germany and the United Kingdom remain the main areas. Here the prices recorded - by Wine-Searcher and market analysis - show a good alignment with the qualitative perception:
Beyond Europe, the US market continues to be the most dynamic destination for Italian niche wines. The American consumer appreciates the Mediterranean character and recognisability of the appellation, with a growing focus on the Riserva and Superiore types.
Asia: the new frontier of Carignano del Sulcis
While Europe and North America are the traditional pillars of exports, the real opportunity for growth now lies in Asia. The presence of Carignano del Sulcis on the continent is still limited, but this very rarity represents a unique opportunity.
Markets such as China, South Korea and Thailand are showing a growing interest in Mediterranean, soft, identity-driven wines: a profile perfectly consistent with Carignano del Sulcis.
Japan remains a mature market, with a historical presence of the denomination: it is not an expansive market today, but it does represent an important qualitative presidium, based on a sophisticated and attentive public.
Conclusion: authenticity, territory and shared strategy
Today, Carignano del Sulcis is a denomination that is aware of its own value: certified production, a transparent supply chain, a strong Mediterranean identity and a viticultural heritage - especially that of Sant'Antioco - that few other Italian territories can boast.
To grow in international markets, the path is clear: tell the story of the territory, consolidate premium positioning, invest in shared strategies and select markets where authenticity and rarity are rewarded.
Carignano del Sulcis does not need to chase volume, but recognition: and the global market, now more than ever, seems ready to listen to this story.
