Vernaccia di San Gimignano Wine: Guide to Vernaccia Wine

Vernaccia is a white wine grape found in many Italian wines. The Vernaccia grape is most commonly associated with the wine Vernaccia di San Gimignano from the town of San Gimignano in Tuscany. Vernaccia di San Gimignano is one of the top wines from Tuscany, and the region’s first white wine with a DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) classification. Producers must make the wine mainly using Vernaccia grapes to receive this certification. However, specific wineries may also use blends of Sauvignon Blanc, Trebbiano, Riesling, and other non-aromatic white wine grapes.

Several other varietals or grape varieties use the appellation “Vernaccia,” including grapes from Sardinia, which make Vernaccia di Oristano, and the Vernaccia Nera grape from the Marche region, which creates the red sparkling wine Vernaccia di Serrapetrona. Though they share the name “Vernaccia,” these wines are not related to the Tuscan grape variety. The term “vernaccia” likely derives from the Latin word “vernaculus,” meaning “locale.”

The history of Vernaccia di San Gimignano wine begins in the thirteenth century:

• Origins: The first mention of Vernaccia wines dates back to historical records in San Gimignano from the year 1276. The Italian poet Dante Alighieri mentioned the wine in his epic poem The Divine Comedy, published in 1320. Its exact origins are unknown—some ampelographers, or botanists who study grapevines, believe Vernaccia grapes came to San Gimignano from Vernazza, a town in the Liguria region. Grapes grown there were also called “Vernaccia” to denote their local status.
• Renaissance: Vernaccia wine was one of the most famous Italian wines in the Medieval and Renaissance periods, favored by royalty, the upper class, and artists alike. Pope Martin IV reportedly loved eels cooked in Vernaccia wine, and St. Catherine of Siena believed it to be healthier than water. The sculptor Michelangelo and writer Geoffrey Chaucer also sang the praises of Vernaccia wine.
• Expansion: Production of Vernaccia wine spread throughout Italy’s wine regions in the fifteenth century. By the sixteenth century, all of the major winemaking families in Tuscany and Florence grew the Vernaccia grape variety. Its reputation grew after the sommelier to Pope Paul III claimed that the Holy Father spent an evening in 1536 drinking Vernaccia while traveling through Tuscany on business from Rome.
• Decline: Vernaccia wine production plummeted in the eighteenth century due partly to the arrival of exotic items like coffee and chocolate in Italy and the popularity of many liqueurs. In the nineteenth century Manuale del vignaiolo toscano (Manual for the Tuscan Winemaker), Ignazio Malenotti noted that Vernaccia was only found mixed with other varietals in certain vineyards.
• Rebirth: Vernaccia wine experienced a comeback in the 1960s. It was the first Italian wine to attain DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) status in 1966 and earned its place in the DOCG in 1993. These classifications boosted production, making Vernaccia wine one of Italy’s most popular white wines.

Several characteristics define Vernaccia wine, including:

1. 1. Aroma: Vernaccia wine made in San Gimignano is not particularly aromatic. However, certain varieties do have distinct aromas—various vintages have slight fruity or yeasty scents, while others offer floral or mineral notes.
2. 2. Color: The color ranges from pale yellow to straw yellow. Over time, its color takes on a more golden quality due to the aging process.
3. 3. Taste: Floral notes, citrus fruit, and a dry, crisp quality dominate the flavor of Vernaccia wine. It’s a full-bodied wine with medium to high acidity levels and a notable aftertaste that suggests minerals or almonds. This element is due to the soils in which it’s grown, rich with both sand and clay.

Many foods pair well with Vernaccia wine, such as:

1. 1. Meat: Vernaccia wine’s dry crispness and floral aspects make it ideal for pairing with white meats like pork chops and grilled chicken in savory dishes. Fish and seafood also pair well with Vernaccia, especially tuna, lobsters, and sushi, as well as fish- and seafood-related dishes, such as a seafood salad, vitello tonnato (veal with tuna), or spaghetti with clams.
2. 2. Pasta: Pasta and cheeses are excellent food pairing choices with Vernaccia wine. Savory dishes are the best choices—Parmigiana ravioli and chicken cacciatore benefit greatly from the wine’s crispness and fruit notes. Dishes with truffles, such as truffle risotto, are excellent food pairing choices.
3. 3. Cheese: Mild- to medium-flavored cheeses like Pecorino, goat cheese, or fontina pair well with Vernaccia.
4. 4. Vegetables: You can serve Vernaccia wine with vegetables like artichokes, asparagus, beans, and salads with oil-based dressings.

Want to learn more about the culinary arts? The MasterClass Annual Membership provides exclusive video lessons from the world’s best chefs and wine critics, including James Suckling, Lynnette Marrero, Ryan Chetiyawardana, Gabriela Cámara, Gordon Ramsay, Massimo Bottura, and more.