Culinary festivals and wine tastings: Discover Sardinia’s delicacies!

As with the rest of Italy, food in Sardinia is more than just sustenance; it’s a way of life. Culinary traditions are deeply rooted, with recipes passed down from generation to generation. Each dish and its ingredients have a long tradition and tell a fascinating story.

So it’s no surprise that local festivals (better known as sagre) celebrate some of these ingredients or dishes, offering not only the chance to taste them, but also an opportunity to experience the pride in these unique flavours, the sense of community in a village, the joie de vivre, and the authentic hospitality of the Sardinians.

So, whether you are an experienced foodie or a curious traveller, every culinary event or wine tasting offers an opportunity to connect with the island, its traditions, and its people.

The specialities are, of course, influenced by local produce, the mild climate and traditions: on the coast, the dishes are finer and lighter, featuring fish and seafood, while in the island’s interior, the recipes are more rustic, with strong flavours.

 

Girotonno: tradition and innovation

In the Sulcis-Iglesiente region in south-west Sardinia lies the small island of San Pietro, home to the town of Carloforte. The town is renowned for its centuries-old tuna production tradition. Thanks to its high quality and distinctive flavour, this tuna is highly regarded by gourmets and connoisseurs. Girotonno takes place every year in June: For four days, Carloforte is transformed into a bustling hub with open-air tastings, live cooking demonstrations, music, and a showcase of local arts and crafts. The centrepiece of the event is a tuna-based culinary competition in which chefs from around the world reinterpret the dish using their own cultural traditions and culinary visions.

The Bottarga Festival celebrates the gold of Cabras.

The salty smell of the lagoon, the golden colour of bottarga, and the pride of a community linked to mullet fishing for centuries: this is Cabras, a vibrant town on the west coast of the province of Oristano. Bottarga is made from salted, pressed and sun-dried fish roe, primarily from mullet but also from tuna.

Bottarga from mullet is also known as the gold of Cabras because its production is very complex, making the fish delicacy correspondingly expensive (up to €250 per kilogramme!). It has a savoury, fishy flavour and can be served as an antipasto, either in thin slices on toasted bread or fresh ricotta, or in a salad with tomatoes or artichokes. It can also be finely grated over spaghetti or used in other pasta dishes.

The Bottarga Festival takes place in mid-September, when the streets of Cabras come alive with show cooking, tastings, workshops and laboratories that celebrate tradition and innovation. It is an ideal opportunity to discover this corner of the west coast, where a single ingredient says a lot about the territory.

Benvenuto Vermentino celebrates Sardinia’s only DOCG wine.

The D.O.C.G. (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) is the absolute top seal for wines, equivalent to Prädikatswein. To receive this label, winegrowers must adhere to strict production rules. Vermentino di Gallura is the only wine on the island with this label. Other Italian D.O.C.G. wines known beyond national borders include Barolo, Franciacorta, Dolcetto, Barbera and Amarone. Vermentino grapes are grown in the north-east of Sardinia, in porous, permeable soils with a high potassium content, at an altitude of no more than 500 metres. Vermentino has a dry flavour and goes particularly well with fried fish and shellfish, as well as a good Pecorino Sardo cheese.

The Benvenuto Vermentino event, which celebrates what is perhaps Sardinia’s most famous wine and the areas in which it is grown, takes place in Olbia at the end of September/beginning of October. For a few days, the city becomes a tasting circuit, bringing together winemakers, wine lovers, tourists and professionals in a convivial atmosphere. With guided tastings, masterclasses, meetings with producers, music and local crafts, Olbia is presented as a destination not only for sun and sea, but also for flavour and culture.

 

Saboris Antigus celebrates history and culinary traditions.

Saboris Antigus celebrates the agricultural and cultural traditions of the historic regions of Trexenta and Sarcidano in the southern interior of the island, around 70 kilometres north of Cagliari. Nine municipalities take part in the event, including Gergei, Selegas, Serri, Siurgus Donigala and Mandas. The event evokes memories of an area once known as the ‘granary of Rome’. From the end of October to mid-December, the streets of the participating villages are filled with show cooking, workshops and stalls dedicated to local gastronomy and wines. This is an opportunity to discover the artistic and archaeological heritage of these historic municipalities.

Calici di Stelle is a wine route across Sardinia.

Every August, Calici di Stelle brings the magic of wine to some of Sardinia’s most impressive wine towns. Organised by the National Association of Wine Cities and the Wine Tourism Movement, this event brings together food, wine, music, art and culture. It transforms squares, wine cellars and historic centres into unique places to enjoy a glass of wine under the stars. Wine tastings, winery tours, live concerts and artistic performances create a welcoming atmosphere that celebrates the island’s regions and grape varieties. Every summer, a wine route covers dozens of municipalities from north to south, giving wine lovers a great opportunity to sample the finest wines Sardinia has to offer.

Magnalonga Dorgalese: A journey through flavour and nature

The Magnalonga Dorgalese is a unique event in Sardinia that combines nature, history, and culinary delights. Every year on 30 April, hiking enthusiasts and food lovers gather in Dorgali to take part in this special hike. The 9 km circular route takes participants through the heart of the Supramonte, where they can admire the ‘Tombe dei Giganti’ (Giants’ Tombs), prehistoric nuraghi and pre-Nuragic rock reliefs, offering a journey through time. There are nine culinary stops along the way, offering traditional Sardinian dishes. Each dish is accompanied by a local wine, allowing participants to fully enjoy the flavours of the region.

Sagre: culinary festivals in Sardinia

Almost every town in Sardinia has its own festival. These are not just folkloric events, but genuine collective rituals that celebrate the deep bond between community, land, and tradition.

One of the best known is the historic Sagra degli Agrumi (Citrus Festival) in Muravera, one of the most eagerly awaited events in the region’s calendar. Parades in traditional dress, music and tastings celebrate agriculture, a sector that has strongly characterised the local economy and shaped the landscape.

In Tonara, a town in the centre of Sardinia, the Sagra del Torrone (White Nougat Festival) turns the streets into a giant confectionery factory. Torrone is made from almonds, honey, sugar and egg whites, and the streets fill with the aroma of nougat makers producing these delicacies using traditional artisan methods.

Another important sagra takes place in Aritzo, a little further south than Tonara, where the Sagra della Castagna (Chestnut Festival) is held. Visitors to this event can expect to find roasted chestnuts in the streets as well as delicious traditional dishes and a breathtaking mountain atmosphere.

 

The artichoke, grown in various parts of the island, is celebrated in several municipalities, including Siamaggiore, Uri and Samassi. Samassi’s Sagra del Carciofo, recognised as a ‘Sagra di Qualità’ by the Unione Nazionale Pro Loco d’Italia, is now one of the most famous festivals in the Mediterranean.

 

In south-west Sardinia, in the small town of Calasetta on the island of Sant’Antioco, the Sagra del Pilau is a must. This festival celebrates a traditional recipe based on fregola, spider crab and seafood, and is a symbol of the gastronomic identity of this corner of the Sulcis region. The festival features show cooking, workshops, street food, local crafts, music and outdoor activities.

Sardinian festivals are more than just calendar events; they are traditional celebrations supported by the local population. They offer a deep insight into the island’s culture, cuisine and way of life, and, as they usually take place in small towns, they also provide an opportunity to discover rural Sardinia, with its mountains, forests and charming villages off the beaten track.