Picture Sardinia, Italy: an island strewn with craggy peaks, wild myrtle and sheep with attitude. Now spray some sea mist, throw in a chorus of toasting centenarians, and fill every glass with Cannonau—the official fuel of Sardinian joie de vivre.

Sometimes called the “wine of the gods” due to its rich history, perceived health benefits and connection to the island’s longevity, Cannonau isn’t just wine here; it’s local magic, with roots possibly stretching over 3,000 years. It’s bold, fruity, spicy and rumoured to keep your heart beating long after the dinner candles sputter out.

“Why do Sardinians live so long?” The answer might be in their wine glasses. Cannonau’s loaded with antioxidants—up to three times the punch of your garden-variety red. And it’s flexible enough to savour with slow-cooked lamb and earthy pasta, or to just celebrate with friends. Science suspects all its heart-healthy flavonoids are part of the recipe of Sardinia’s Blue Zone, a geographic region where people live significantly longer and healthier lives than average, with a disproportionately high number of residents reaching age 100 or beyond in good health (although the Mediterranean diet and general healthy lifestyle of Sardinians may have something to do with it as well).

So what the heck is Cannonau anyway? It’s a medium-bodied red wine whose DNA is the same as Grenache in France or Garnacha in Spain, but with a more earthy, herbal and rustic nature due to the soils and growing conditions of Sardinia.

ASKOS: A MODERN-DAY MUSE?
A new release at the LCBO is Askos 2023 Cannonau di Sardegna ($18.95). Although there’s basically no information on the bottle, I suspect it’s produced by 135-year-old Masseria Li Veli estate. While that winery is actually based in Puglia, they have launched a project under the Askos brand that explores heritage grapes grown in their native regions, and this wine certainly qualifies, showing a traditional fresh, fruit-packed swagger, with notes of leather, Italian herbs, pepper, cherry and grilled plum. If you like Ontario gamay noir, you should try this. It’s very similar in it lithe, light- to midweight texture and spiciness. You can pair it up with meatballs, pizza or mushroom risotto, but it also has enough lively acidity to sip on its own. 88/100

SELLA E MOSCA: OLD-SCHOOL CHARISMA
If you’re looking for a more rounded, full-bodied version of Cannonau, consider Sella e Mosca. Founded in 1899, theirs is a sprawling vinous playground right outside Alghero in the northwest of the island. Their Cannonau Riserva, a regular at the LCBO at $19.95, is lush and floral, brimming with sunbaked wildness. (And its estate boasts everything from elegant cellars to a time-warp museum.) 89/100

So, next time your wanderlust aches or your dinner party is missing pizzazz, channel the spirit of Sardinia. Raise a glass of Cannonau—whether the juicy, modern Askos bottling or the heritage-rich Sella e Mosca—and toast to sun, salt and living well into triple digits.