Vernaccia di San Gimignano

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• The hilly territory of the commune of San Gimignano lies between 67 and 629 metres above sea level, on soils of Pliocene origin dating back 6.8–1.8 million years.
• The soils destined for Vernaccia derive from marine Pliocene deposits consisting of yellow sands (tufo) and yellow and grey clays, often layered over more compact clays at depth.
• The soils are characterised by the presence of sandy material with a stony skeleton and argillaceous schists, a combination that favours root penetration.
• The vineyards are situated between 70 and 500 metres above sea level, with slope and aspect varying according to the hillside on which they are located.
• The climate is sub-Mediterranean, with fairly dry summers and fairly cold winters, mean annual rainfall of approximately 700 mm distributed over 83 rain days, and a relative minimum in summer.

• The Vernaccia vine was introduced to the territory of San Gimignano during the twelfth century, and as early as 1276 the Ordinamenti delle Gabelle of the Commune imposed a tax on Vernaccia sold outside the municipal territory.
• The production regulations exclude all sprawling training systems as incompatible with a hilly, sub-Mediterranean environment, while allowing broad freedom in the use of traditional Tuscan training forms.

• The colour of Vernaccia di San Gimignano is straw yellow with golden highlights that become more pronounced as the wine ages.
• On the palate the wine is dry, harmonious and savoury, sometimes with a characteristic almond finish, while on the nose it shows delicate, refined aromas with initial fruity notes that may evolve towards mineral notes with ageing.

• The varying proportional combination of sand, clay, organic matter and stony skeleton in the soils is the decisive factor in enhancing the savouriness, freshness and ageing potential of the wines.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the source.

All appellations in Italy

Sources

• Specification (EUR-Lex, single document)
• eAmbrosia register (EU) — File number PDO-IT-A1292
• Official trade body site — Consorzio del Vino Vernaccia di San Gimignano