It’s midday and the temperature is a pleasant 25C. I’m at Bioaquam, the al fresco restaurant within Chia Laguna Resort’s Conrad hotel, and I’ve just been poured a crisp glass of Vermentino – a light white made from a grape widely grown here in Sardinia.‘Salute!’ I thank the waiter, raising my glass. He responds with a phrase I’ve never heard before: ‘A kent’annos!’Seeing my confusion, he translates: ‘May you live to 100!’What a delightful sentiment, I think, before realising that on this island, it’s not actually unlikely. Sardinia, which sits just south of Corsica, is an original ‘Blue Zone’ (the others are Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture, the Greek island of Ikaria, and Nicoya, Costa Rica).It was identified as such in 1999 after research found an unusually high concentration of centenarians. So what is the secret to long life here, I ask Giuseppe Fornillo, the hotel’s affable manager.‘There are a number of factors,’ he says, ‘including a more relaxed lifestyle and a lack of stress.’ Laura Millar visits Chia Laguna Resort’s Conrad hotel in Sardinia, Italy, to find out how locals on the island regularly live to 100 Sardinia, which sits just south of Corsica, is an original ‘Blue Zone’ (the others are Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture, the Greek island of Ikaria, and Nicoya, Costa Rica) Guests at Chia Laguna can dine at any of the 13 restaurants within the resort, where almost every one has a selection of dishes marked with a Blue Zone symbolThe specific Blue Zone area on Sardinia is in the central Nuoro province, which until about 20 years ago was difficult to reach due to poor roads. The people who lived there had only their immediate community to rely on, kept active by working the land and only ate what they could grow.That included grapes, so wine was a legitimate part of their regime. ‘The polyphenols contributed to their good health,’ adds Fornillo.The Chia Laguna Resort sits in a lush and untamed landscape known as the macchia mediterranea. This dense shrubland is home to evergreen plants whose scents mingle with salty sea breezes.I’d been to Sardinia once before, staying on the Costa Smeralda – the glitzy northern coastline renowned for powder-soft beaches, turquoise waters and yacht-filled marinas.The southern coast is more rugged. To get here from Cagliari airport, I drive through unassuming villages where children play in dusty squares and past lakes dotted with herons, warblers and dusky-pink flamingos.By the time I arrive at the Conrad, I feel myself loosen up. The decor is pleasing to the eye with stone walls, colourful ceramics and contemporary art hung throughout. The Chia Laguna Resort sits in a lush and untamed landscape known as the macchia mediterraneaThe real gems, however, are the nearby beaches. Le Dune di Campana is named after the dramatic piles of sand which lie in undulating heaps, while the golden sands of Monte Cogoni stretch to the 16th century Chia Tower, perched above on a small hill. After a heavenly sunrise one morning, I walk to the peak it sits on. I might not be working the land, but my muscles have certainly had a workout.Special mention has to go to the food. Guests can dine at any of the 13 restaurants within the resort and almost every one has a selection of dishes marked with a Blue Zone symbol, indicating the use of longevity-approved ingredients.These could include farro, an ancient grain served with courgette, tomatoes and capers. Or grilled prawns, drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and chilli. Alongside all of this, of course, a glass of wine (or three) is crucial.And thanks to Sardinia’s way of life, I’m looking forward to a 100th birthday telegram one day from King William…? Flights from London to Cagliari from around £170 return (ba.com). Rooms at the Conrad, Chia Laguna, start from £232 per night, including breakfast (chialagunaresort.com).