The territory

The area of origin

In terms of size and population density, Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, but it’s also practically a mini-continent thanks to its remarkable variety of natural and human environments.

The island’s uniqueness is largely thanks to:

  1. it’s special environmental and climatic conditions;
  2. it’s ancient agropastoral traditions, which are still very much a part of modern Sardinia.

Many natural features that have long disappeared in other parts of the country remain unspoilt in Sardinia: remote coastlines, mountains, forests, rare animals and indigenous plants.

The climate, typically Mediterranean, is mild in winter and hot in summer: the north and west of the island tend to see the most frequent rainfall, and the island as a whole sees between 200 and 230 days of full sunshine over the course of the year. The climate is also significantly influenced by the sea and the strong winds that regularly blow across the island during each of the four seasons. Woodland covers approximately 18% of the island, principally consisting of evergreen oaks and downy oaks. In the coastal areas as well as the central-eastern sector, junipers and wild olive trees are commonplace. Throughout the rest of the island there are vast expanses of lentisk, cistus and strawberry trees as well as many other wild plants that are typical of the island.

Ever since the times of the Nuragic civilization, sheep farming has always been an important vocation for many of the island's population, at times even their only source of income. In fact, the agropastoral sector, along with sheep dairy production, is still one of the most important sectors for the island's economy, both in terms of number of employees and turnover. Indeed, today there are more than 12,000 livestock farms operating throughout Sardinia, accounting for 40% of Italy's entire sheep population and producing a total of almost 300 million litres of milk each year.

The connection between the PDO product and its Area of Origin.

The primary characteristics of Pecorino Sardo PDO undoubtedly derive from the combination of natural and human factors that are unique to its area of origin. The unique environmental and climatic conditions make this cheese’s area of origin particularly suited to grazing, where natural meadows rich in a variety of shrubs provide a very important food source for the island’s sheep, giving the milk that’s used for the finished product its special, unique qualities.
Furthermore, the skill and undisputed expertise of Sardinia’s master
cheesemakers have managed to create a perfect fusion between the traditional teachings of yesteryear and modern knowledge and technology, and in so doing have succeeded in enhancing the organoleptic and sensorial characteristics of Pecorino Sardo.