Vernaccia di San Gimignano

Vernaccia di San Gimignano, a celebrated white wine from the medieval town of San Gimignano in Tuscany, Italy, is steeped in history. It is one of the oldest recorded wines in Italy, with mentions dating back to the 13th century. With its rich past, this wine was the first Italian wine to receive DOC status in 1966 and later achieved the prestigious DOCG status in 1993.

Alas, this variety's plantings are in decline: down to 500 hectares from their peak in 1990 of 880. Fashion is fickle, but there are signs of a minor resurgence for this variety, with the emergence of amphorae-aged examples that are rather interesting.

Vernaccia is a noble variety. It is not particularly aromatic but has a rich body and a distinct minerality or saltiness. The best examples are sometimes oak-aged, and the wine can age rather well