Mentioned by Dante Alighieri in the Divine Comedy in the circle of the Gluttons of the Purgatory; appreciated on the tables of Lorenzo dei Medici and sent appositely to Rome to Pope Leone X who, after tasting it at the Medici family house could no longer do without it, the roots of the Vernaccia di San Gimignano lose themselves in history.
The Vernaccia di San Gimignano boasts a century old tradition, it was the first Italian wine to be recognised, in 1966, D.O.C. wine (Controlled Origin Denomination) and later, in 1993, D.O.C.G. (Controlled and Guaranteed Origin Denomination). The latter is a recognition that has made the Vernaccia one of the most prized wines of Italy, also because the quality is guarantees by the exclusivity of the production area: it is produced only in the territory of the municipality of San Gimignano, in the province of Siena.
The Consortium of the Vernaccia di San Gimignano, constituted in 1972 with its current offices in Villa della Rocca, is the consortium that gathers the over 70 producers of the Vernaccia wine, with the task of introducing the Vernaccia as much as possible and contribute o the improvement of the wine production.
Vernaccia is obtained with grapes that come from the hilly areas that favour a good exposition to and an average altitude that is less than 300 metres; the terrain that characterises the cultivation is made of yellow sands and sandy clays. It is excellent as an aperitif and pleasantly accompanies fish-based dishes: it must be served cool and at a temperature of 10-12 degrees. The San Gimignano area is also well known for another, and just as famous, area of wine production, the Chianti.
The road of the Vernaccia di San Gimignano Wine extends from San Gimignano to the nearby municipalities of Libbiano, Pancone S. Andrea, Bibbiano until Castel S.Gimignano.
Wine road Vernaccia di San Gimignano
San Gimignano
San Gimignano Municipality
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