Girò is a red wine grape found on the island of Sardinia (Sardegna) in Italy. Like many other Sardinian varieties, Girò is most likely a traditional rather than a native grape of Italy, arriving on Sardinian shores during Spain’s domination of the island.
Where grown: Sardegna (Sardinia): Girò grows around Sassari and the Basso Campidano, in the province of Cagliari, and to a lesser extent near Oristano. The monovarietal DOC wines are Girò di Cagliari (100% Girò). Girò can also be used in roughly fifteen dfferent IGT blends such as: Barbagia, Isola dei Nuraghi IGT, Planargia, Romangia, Trexenta.
Viticulture: Medium to medium-large bunches and medium-sized berries. It is not a particularly vigorous variety; its productivity is generally good but irregular.
Wines: Girò is available in dry, sweet, liquoroso secco (forti!ed dry) and liquoroso dolce (forti!ed sweet) forms, but is almost always found in the sweet version.
Wine style: Aromas of candied red cherries, milk chocolate, and plums macerated in alcohol. On the palate it is delicately sweet and spicy, with abundant notes of very ripe red fruit.
Bibliography
Ian D’Agata, Native Wine Grapes of Italy (University of California Press, 2014). I
Italian Wine Unplugged (Positive Press, 2017).