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Ishopu, Antonio Mele
Grape
100% Cannonau
Drinking Window
Drink now or by 2030
Region
Mamoiada, Sardegna
Pairings
Game dishes, such as wild boar stew, roast venison, or duck. It also pairs well with aged cheeses and rich red meat dishes.
Paring Recipe
Winemaker Notes
“Ishopu” takes its name from the local dialect word for the grape stem, and it’s a red wine that fully embraces its origins: Cannonau fermented together with the stems, giving depth, grip, and authenticity.
In the glass, it shines a lively ruby red. The nose opens with pure red fruits, wet earth, and forest floor — aromas that recall stone, undergrowth, and the gentle rain falling on the vineyards.
On the palate it has a bold and decisive character: the tannins are front and center, firm and commanding, yet fascinating. A warm note of alcohol smooths some of the edges, balancing the raw energy of the stem-included maceration and making each sip compelling and far from ordinary.
This is a wine that rewards patience: with time it will find a softer equilibrium, though even now it pairs beautifully with hearty dishes and slow-cooked meats.
Story
In Mamoiada, where vineyards climb the granite slopes of Sardinia’s Barbagia, Antonio Mele tends his small parcels of Cannonau with quiet dedication. His vines, many trained as old alberelli, stand at around 650 meters above sea level, where hot days and cool nights shape wines of depth and balance.
Farming is entirely by hand and without chemicals, rooted in the rhythms of tradition and the ruggedness of the land. His Vinera is a pure expression of this philosophy: Cannonau fermented spontaneously, aged with patience in neutral wood, and bottled without compromise.
It carries the soul of Mamoiada—intense fruit, wild herbs, a stony backbone—and yet remains graceful and transparent. What we love about Antonio Mele is his ability to craft wines that feel timeless: bottles that hold both the strength of granite and the tenderness of a family’s devotion, made to be shared around the table.
