The Tenuta Asinara was a life choice of the Sassu Family. Born from the desire to give this area its highest expression, contributing to conservation of the species of the white donkeys and producing great wines. We would like to demonstrate that our land has within itself this great calling. It’s a challenge that requires time, patience and commitment. It is a series of landmarks, such as the birth of our wine, Herculis, a Bordeaux bottle with the ancient name of Asinara. The other wines all follow in suit: Birbante, a sparkling wine produced in accordance with the wisdom of the vintner, with the bunches from the late thinning. Then Indolente Rosso, a Cannonau, and Indolente Bianco, our vermentino. They have names that allude to the musicality of the Sardinian word for donkey, su molente. We produce them with the same spirit that animates these animals – with patience, work and proverbial stubbornness.
Our most recent creation is Hassan, a Bordeaux blend plus cannonau that has been aged in barrique for 14 months. This wine is named after the third king of Algiers, the Handsome Hassan.
Born in the legendary island of Asinara, he was kidnapped by the Turkish pirates. Their chief Kheir-ed-Dinn, known as Barbarossa, was captivated by this young man, and became his stepfather.
He lived and died in Algiers facing his life with bravery and kindness. We use the same grapes, dried in cellars for 5 months before vinification, to produce Hassan Passito, which is kept in barriques for three years.