The Contini winery, founded by Salvatore Contini in 1898, ranks among the oldest and most prestigious wine producing establishments in Sardinia.
Both grandchildren and great grandchildren of the founder are passionately and competently dedicated to the accurate selection of vineyards and grapes, to wine-making and maturing, in accordance with the most ancient local traditions.
The size of the concern, which is still family-run, has allowed the Continis to follow with dedication and skill the accurate selection of vineyards and grape varieties, as well as the vinification and maturing processes, based on the most ancient local traditions.
Vernaccia di Oristano has always been the symbol of the Azienda Contini. This wine, awarded the gold medal in 1912 and 1913 at the International Wine Show in Milan, represents one of the best achievements in wine of Sardinia as for complexity, refinement and body.
From 1980 onwards the Contini winery, to better meet the requirements of the growing and more qualified market, but preserving unimpaired the traditions of the specific production of the Vernaccia, has extended its range of production: a number of new wines have been added to the Contini list; these wines are more modern in concept, and meet and satisfy fully the requirements of a more extensive public.
The Azienda Vinicola Attilio Contini is located at Cabras, a town in mid-western Sardinia, less than 10 kilometres far from Oristano, the main town in the province. With more than 10,000 inhabitants, Cabras is the third biggest centre in the province of Oristano.
The town lies on the banks of the lake which bears the same name. The lake of Cabras is the main feature characterising this region. The rich environmental, historical and cultural heritage makes this a fascinating and picturesque area of the Sardinian west coast.
The vast territory of the commune of Cabras covers about 102 km2, thus occupying most of the Sinis peninsula, which stretches out into the Sea of Sardinia. The area presents a large variety of micro-environments typical of marine and marshy regions. The numerous animal and plant species make the place ideal for nature lovers.
Another attraction of Sinis is its many historical and archaeological sights. In fact, given its strategic position, this was a place where many civilisations (Nuragics, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Arabs, Spaniards) joined together or clashed against each other. Among these are the legendary city of Tharros, the Neolithic villages of Cuccuru is Arrius and Conca Illonis, and the innumerable nuraghi scattered all over the region. A 300 km2 marine reserve, called "Penisola del Sinis - Isola di Mal di Ventre", has recently been created along the coastal area of the commune of Cabras and on the two islets of Mal di Ventre and Catalano. The objective of this project is the sensible use and promotion of the area, but especially the preservation of this unique environment, rendering it, at the same time, more accessible to visitors.
Cabras was founded around 1000 AD on the south-eastern banks of the lake which bears its name. Originally it was called "Masone de Capras" (the goat-pen), a name which derives from the fact that the initial core of the village consisted of a small shepherds' settlement.
Later, it developed with the waves of migrations of coastal dwellers, especially from Tharros, who moved inland to escape the Saracen raiders.
In the following centuries Cabras became part of the Giudicato di Arborea, one of the principalities into which Sardinia was divided into in medieval times. Dating back to this period are the barely visible ruins of a castle, right on the banks of the lake.
Visitors arriving at Cabras should not miss a visit to the parochial church of Santa Maria, the patron saint of the village, and to the ancient small church of Spirito Santo, which stands right in the centre. The former was constructed towards the early 18th century, probably over a pre-existing building, but has undergone several restoration works over the last couple of centuries which have notably modified its outline. This rather large church is in the baroque style. It has three aisles and a barrel vault reinforced by arches. Externally it has a dominant façade in grey trachyte, flanked by a bell tower in basalt blocks. Its polychrome marble altar is considerable of some value.
The Church of Spirito Santo, which dates from the early 17th century, is smaller. It has a simple structure with a single nave and it stands on a small square where several narrow and tortuous streets - as is typical in the centre - merge.
Among the architectural sights of Cabras are the two fine sandstone portals of Don Peppi and Donna Annetta. Once the imposing entrances of the two largest olive-groves outside the village, they have recently been absorbed into the urban area. The portal of Don Peppi stands on the very same square that the Azienda Vinicola Contini overlooks.
Located on the Sardinian mid-western coast, the Sinis Peninsula is undoubtedly an area of great importance for its natural environment and for tourism. Its natural appeal lies in the variety of its ecosystems, in the beauty and diversity of its coasts and wetlands, and in the innumerable archaeological sites which bear witness to a flourishing past with evident traces of foreign civilisations.
The territory of Sinis occupies about 170 km2 and lies mainly within the boundaries of the commune of Cabras. Great part of it is washed by the sea: on the west it faces the Sea of Sardinia, on the south it stretches into the Gulf of Oristano, a part of which forms the lagoon of Mistras. On the east of Sinis is the lake of Cabras, also called Mar'e Pontis. It is only on the north that the region is bound by dry land, at the south-western foothills of Montiferru.