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Vin Santo del Chianti DOC

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Vin Santo Designations

There are two types of Vin Santo produced in Tuscany according to geographical subdenomination; Secco or Amabile and Occhio di Pernice.

Each type has its own specific requirements within its appellation, and Secco or Amabile can be made in three forms;
One is the Red and Dry, which has no aging requirement.
The other two are White and Dry, or White and Sweet, and each has a minimum aging requirement of 36 months.
An additional style of each above is also produced, which is a riserva, and specifies a minimum aging requirement in the Carratelli barriques of 24 months for the red, and 48 months for the white variety.

Occhio di Pernice is made in one type; Red and Sweet, with a minimum aging requirement of 36 months. It also has a riserva designation for minimum aging of 48 months.                

  • Country: Italy
  • Region: Tuscany
  • District: Chianti
  • Varietals: 70% Trebbiano Toscano Bianco and 30% Malvasia del Chianti
  • Varietals: Single vineyard and vintage
  • Type: Secco (White and Dry)
  • Alcohol: 16.0%
  • Aging: Minimum of 3 years to 10 years or longer in 30 liter Caratelli barriques   
  • Bottle: 750ml
  • Limited Annual Production and Domestic Availability

Winemaker: Cantine Borghi

Wine Notes:

Ever since the Middle Ages, Vin Santo has enjoyed a place of honor in Tuscan oenology. There are many stories about the origin of this wine's name. One of these is about a 14th-century friar who used to hand out the wine that had already been used at Mass to people who were ill, believing that it had healing and miraculous properties and was therefore "santo" or holy.
 
 Another story relates that Greek Patriarch John Bessarion, who was visiting Florence on the occasion of the Ecumenical Council on 1349, was served Vin Pretto, or "pure wine," a local wine that no longer exists. Upon drinking it, the patriarch declared, "This wine is from Xanthos!" But the Italians at the table thought he said the wine was "santo", and started calling the old Vin Pretto, Vin Santo. In any case, the wine's name has probably got something to do with the fact that it was used during Mass.
 
The establishment of Vin Santo del Chianti D.O.C. in August 1997 marked an important step towards the full valorization of a wine that has played such an important role in Tuscan oenology.
The Vin Santo del Chianti D.O.C.'s production area not only corresponds exactly to the same area where the Chianti D.O.C.G. is produced, but it also follows the same geographical subdivision: Colli Aretini, Colli Fiorentini, Colli Senesi, Colline Pisane, Montalbano, Montespertoli, and Rufina.
 
Winemaker Notes:

Select grapes are hand picked and dried on wood racks usually hung from the rafters of a well-ventilated room or in ventilated wood garrets. Once dried, the grapes are soaked and pressed and the juice poured into 30 liter Caratelli barriques for fermentation. Caratelli are very small cigar-shaped barrels. After the initial fermentation of up to 3 months, the Caratelli are sealed and placed under the roof of the winery, sometimes as long as ten years or more. The wine develops a deep golden or amber color, and a sweet, often nutty taste.

This wine may be enjoyed indefinately and once opened will retain all its fruit and wine characteristics.

Pairing:

The wine of Saints is normally served as an aperitif, with dessert, and drank on holy days throughout the year.

Price: $49.98