The agricultural economy of the Mediterranean has historically been built on two pillars: vines and olive trees. There are places where this bond is particularly strong and people whose work helps to reinforce it. One such example is the Fois family. We are in Alghero, in the northwest of Sardinia, where the Fois family has been deeply connected to agriculture—especially olive groves—since the mid-19th century, making them the heart of their production.
Giuseppe Fois, who passed away a few years ago, founded Accademia Olearia in 2000, one of the largest olive-growing enterprises on the island. Today, the company boasts around 300 hectares of olive groves with an impressive 34,000 trees. Currently, his sons Alessandro and Antonello (pictured above with their father Giuseppe) are carrying on this historic legacy, with Alessandro managing production and Antonello overseeing sales.
Accademia Olearia: from olive trees to vineyards
But what does all this have to do with wine? Let’s return to the connection we mentioned earlier: alongside their olive groves, the Fois family also cultivates vines in the Alghero area, a region where these two crops—and cultures—have always coexisted. Under the Tenute Fois - Accademia Olearia brand, the family carefully tends to about a dozen hectares of Vermentino vineyards. These vines flourish in the predominantly flat terrain of the region, occasionally interrupted by gentle hills, while the nearby sea plays a crucial role in shaping the climate, with its breezes softly caressing the vineyards.
The best value-for-money wine in Sardinia, according to the Berebene 2025 Guide
Alongside the company’s renowned extra virgin olive oils—frequently awarded in the Gambero Rosso’s Guida Oli d’Italia—the Fois family also produces Vermentino di Sardegna Chlamys. Vinified exclusively in stainless steel, the 2023 vintage fully expresses the freshness of the grape variety, offering a version that is all about drinkability and enjoyment. On the nose, it showcases aromas of wild mint, white flowers, and yellow-fleshed fruit. On the palate, it is highly savoury, almost iodine-like, delivering a fresh and lingering sip.
In the Berebene 2025 guide by Gambero Rosso, this Vermentino has been awarded for offering the Best Regional Price-to-Quality Ratio. It has also received Due Bicchieri Rossi (Two Red Glasses) in the Vini d’Italia 2025 guide by Gambero Rosso, having reached the final stages of the judging process.
In Puglia, there’s a bar where it still feels like the 1960s
The Moscato d'Asti and Canelli with the best value for money chosen by Gambero Rosso
The thousand street specialities of Palermo’s oldest market
A promising new bar opens inside a historic theatre in Rome: the Teatro della Cometa is reborn
Chianti, Amarone, and Prosecco: the wines most at risk from US tariffs
