This Tuscan wine tour will take us to discover a Tuscan wine that was first produced at the beginning of the thirteenth century. This date is backed up by plenty of historical documentation consisting of literary works and official documents. Vernaccia di San Gimignano is one of the few white wines made in an area devoted almost exclusively to the production of red wines.
VERNACCIA DI SAN GIMIGNANO WINE TOUR
Vernaccia di San Gimignano is one of Italy’s oldest wines. Its name is that of the wine and also the grape variety.
WHAT WE WILL DO ON THIS PRIVATE TUSCANY WINE TOUR:
FULL DESCRIPTION OF THIS PRIVATE TUSCANY WINE TOUR:
The first official mention of the wine (in the tax records of the municipality of San Gimignano) dates back to 1276. This mentions the imposition of a tax for each load of Vernaccia exported out of the San Gimignano municipality. In addition there is the documentation of the register of Vernaccia Suppliers, who had the task of not only overseeing taxes levied on the wine, but also of buying up the best Vernaccia wines on behalf of the Municipality.
Despite all this, it seems that the Vernaccia vine is actually not native to the area of San Gimignano, but was introduced for the first time from Liguria around the year 1200, specifically from the area of Vernazza, giving it its name.
It seems that the introduction of Vernaccia to San Gimignano was the work of a certain Vieri de’ Bardi. Later, his descendants, Zanobi and Angiolo Bardi further developed the cultivation of the vine. It became so highly valued and famous that is was even mentioned by the father of the Italian language, Dante Alighieri, in his Divine Comedy.
In the fourteenth century its production grew and Vernaccia began to be sold all over Tuscany and beyond. In fact, this Tuscan white wine enjoyed a marked popularity with aristocratic families.
After experiencing a decline in popularity at the turn of the nineteenth century, Vernaccia had a kind of renaissance that started in the 1930s. However, the peak in production was only really achieved in the 1990s.
Today the quality of this Tuscan wine has improved to the point of being able to compete with the great Italian and international white wines.
This Tuscan wine tour will allow us to appreciate the different characteristics of this simple but elegant white wine, which in fact varies greatly from producer to producer. Straw yellow with golden reflections, its aromas are fruity and floral, which with aging develop a hint of flint. It is very often fresh, dry and savoury.
It can be paired with many different foods and is enhanced by typical Italian summer foods: raw, steamed or fried vegetables. It also goes well with fresh cheeses, white meats, fish and farro salads, for example.
This Tuscan wine tour will take us to discover two local Tuscan wineries where you will get to know the producers and learn about their winemaking techniques and stories. The wine tasting will be accompanied by a homemade lunch at a farm where you will enjoy the combination of good food and wine: the essence of the Tuscan culinary tradition.
