Sardinia celebrates a new milestone in the Italian wine scene: Vermentino Ràfia, produced by Cantina Santa Maria La Palma, has been awarded the highest recognition in the Vini d’Italia 2026 guide by Gambero Rosso—the prestigious Tre Bicchieri award.
This prize is not just a certificate of oenological excellence, but a true symbol: Vermentino Ràfia now joins the ranks of Italy’s finest wines, proudly representing Sardinia and bringing the name of Alghero into the most important national and international contexts.
The meaning of the award
The Tre Bicchieri are the most coveted accolade in the Italian wine industry. Every year thousands of labels are blind-tasted by Gambero Rosso’s expert panels, but only a select few reach this level of prestige. Winning the award means officially entering the elite of Italian wine, gaining extraordinary visibility in global markets, and carrying a mark of quality that becomes a reference point for both consumers and industry professionals.
A wine that tells the story of Sardinia
Vermentino Ràfia is crafted from vineyards cultivated in the Alghero area, where sea breezes, abundant light, and calcareous-clay soils give the grapes their distinctive character. This Vermentino di Sardegna DOC stands out for its freshness, minerality, and elegance, with a bouquet reminiscent of Mediterranean scents and a distinctive saline note that evokes the sea itself.
The name Ràfia recalls the natural fiber used to weave strong bonds—a symbol that reflects the philosophy of Cantina Santa Maria La Palma, a cooperative that for over 70 years has brought together 300 winegrowers in a shared project of dedication, innovation, and love for their land.
The Tre Bicchieri award is therefore a recognition not only of this wine’s quality, but also of the work of hundreds of growers and the uniqueness of Alghero’s terroir.
A recognition for a community
“A great cooperative, working at the highest level”—this is how Gambero Rosso described Cantina Santa Maria La Palma while awarding this prestigious recognition.
The company’s Board of Directors and management emphasized the significance of this achievement:
“This recognition fills us with pride; it represents a victory for an entire region and a large community. It is a prize for a winery that in recent years has achieved important results in financial performance, grape quality, and wine production, as confirmed by both the numbers and the growing appreciation of the public. Vermentino Ràfia is the fruit of the work of hundreds of families who care for their vineyards every single day: winning the Tre Bicchieri means their efforts have been acknowledged at the highest level. We dedicate this award to them and to our land, Sardinia.”
A success that looks to the future
This award joins the numerous accolades already obtained by the winery, confirming its steady growth and its role as a leading player not only in Sardinian but also in Italian wine production. For Alghero and the entire island, it is also an opportunity for international visibility and recognition: Vermentino is increasingly becoming Sardinia’s ambassador to the world, a wine that tells the story of its identity through every glass.
The success of Ràfia is, therefore, a collective toast—an achievement born from an extraordinary land and destined to reach the tables of wine lovers and professionals worldwide.
