Some historical facts:
Mentioned as early as 1276 as a flourishing trade product and by Dante in the Divine Comedy. The vine is believed to derive from Greece and it is evident that the Vernaccia was beloved in Tuscany already 800 yrs ago. Later on Vernaccia was surely served at the table of popes and of the Medici family.

Vernaccia is supposed to mean "native" and shares its name with other Vernaccias in Italy (Oristano, Le Marche and Sardegna) that however are completely different. In fact, the Vernaccia di San Gimignano is a grape strictly connected to the area and cannot be found in any other wine region.
Internationally, it is probably the least appreciated Tuscan wine, firstly because it is not a red wine and secondly because this indigenous grape is quite acidy, a little bitter and not particularly fragrant as for example the widely known Chardonnays. It takes a little getting used to, and since the white wine market is dominated by fresh whites from the cooler regions, it has been difficult for the Vernaccia to show its worth. Lately some Riservas have shown a great result also for aging.
 

Area of Production:
Province of Siena (The communal territory of San Gimignano)
 

Wines:
Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg
Vernaccia di San Gimignano Riserva Docg
 

The Production Code:
The Vernaccia di San Gimignano was the first Italian wine to receive the Doc recognition back in 1966. It is now the only Tuscan Docg white wine (the Docg was given in 1993).

·         Grape varieties: Vernaccia (non aromatic grape) min 90%. Max 10% of non-aromatic authorized white grape varieties.

·         Maximum yield of grapes: 90 quintals per hectare

·         Yield of wine from grapes: max 70%

·         Production per vine is limited to 5 kilos

·         Obligatory minimum ageing: 4 months in inox steel vats. The Riserva has to age for 12 months (a period of which in oak) and 4 months in the bottle.

·         In addition to vinification, all operations involving the preservation and bottling of the wine as well as its fining in the bottle must be carried out within the production zone

·         Before bottling, the wine "certified to become Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg" has to undergo chemical exams and reach approval by a tasting (See General Characteristics)

·         Can go on the market during spring following the harvest. The Riserva goes on the market during the second year after harvest.
 

General Organoleptic Characteristics that the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano must meet:
- Color: pale straw-yellow, tending to golden with age
- Odor: fine, persistent, fruity and floral
- Flavor: dry, harmonic, with a characteristic bitter aftertaste
- Minimum total alcoholic strength by volume: 11%, for the "Riserva" 11.50%
- Sugar: maximum of 4 grams per liter of reducing sugars.
- Minimum total acidity: 5 g/l;
- Minimum net dry extract: 15 g/l
 

Life-span
Vernaccia di San Gimignano is a wine that is intended for drinking young, so within a year, max 2 yrs, of harvest. However, the Riserva has interesting aging potentials (3-5 yrs), depending on the wine.