Antonella Corda

Antonella Corda grew up among vineyards in southern Sardinia, where wine runs deep in her family's veins. Her grandfather, Antonio Argiolas, was a pioneering figure who brought modern winemaking technology to the island after traveling to California. Her mother taught her that great wine begins in the soil, while her father showed her the dedication the craft demands. In 2010, Antonella inherited the family land in Serdiana and took the reins, transforming a centuries-old tradition into something fresh and personal. She studied agronomy at the University of Sassari and earned a master's degree in wine management from the prestigious Edmund Mach Foundation in northern Italy. With that knowledge and her family's legacy behind her, she created a boutique winery that honors the past while embracing innovation.

Serdiana sits in the lower Campidano, just north of Cagliari, where rolling hills meet a landscape dotted with olive groves, vineyards, and grain fields. This is one of Sardinia's oldest agricultural territories, and the terroir here is something special. Antonella works with 15 hectares of vineyards spread across two main sites. Mitza Manna, her grandfather's favorite plot, stretches over six hectares at 200 meters elevation. The soil is a mix of sand, clay, and loam with significant calcium content that brings natural freshness and floral intensity to the wines. Mitza S'ollastu, the second vineyard, sits on what old maps show as an ancient riverbed. The soil here is packed with pebbles, gravel, and sand, giving the wines structure and character. Both vineyards are planted with native Sardinian varieties: Vermentino, Nuragus, and Cannonau.

Antonella's approach to winemaking is rooted in respect for the land and sustainability. Her vineyards have been managed organically since before she officially began the certification process, which started with the 2021 vintage. She uses organic fertilizers, integrated pest control, and sustainable irrigation systems because she believes the land should be passed intact to the next generation. Every grape is handpicked, and she works with minimal intervention in the cellar. Her motto, "di madre in vigna," translates to "from mother to vine," a tribute to her mother's influence and the belief that quality starts in the vineyard. The winery itself, inaugurated in 2019, was designed to have minimal impact on the landscape, echoing the architecture of traditional Campidanese rural homes.

The estate produces primarily three wines that showcase Sardinia's indigenous grapes. The Vermentino di Sardegna DOC is fermented in stainless steel and aged six months on the lees, resulting in a wine with intense aromas of citrus, Mediterranean herbs, and white flowers. The Nuragus di Cagliari DOC comes from one of Sardinia's oldest native varieties, once known more for quantity than quality, but Antonella coaxes elegance and complexity from it with careful vineyard management. The Cannonau di Sardegna DOC, Sardinia's signature red, is aged in stainless steel and non-toasted French oak barrels to preserve its varietal character. This wine earned prestigious Tre Bicchieri awards from Gambero Rosso for both the 2016 and 2017 vintages. In 2019, Antonella introduced Ziru, a limited-production Vermentino aged in clay amphorae, named after the ancient jars used to store oil and wine. Gambero Rosso named her Emerging Winery of the Year in 2019, and her wines have gained recognition from critics like Jancis Robinson, who praised their rare lightness of touch and authentic expression of Sardinian terroir.