The Vin Santo

A TYPICAL “PASSITO” (RAISIN) WINE FROM TUSCANY, VIN SANTO IS READY TO WELCOME YOU IN THE HOUSES OF VALDICHIANA SENESE

Ethereal smell and intense taste, colour ranging from golden to intense amber or topaz. A famous wine in Tuscany acknowledged as the welcoming liqueur of Dante Region. All of this is Vin Santo, a raisin wine considered typical of Tuscany but which is also produced in other areas of Italy. It is a perfect liqueur for any occasion, you can accompany it with dishes such as aged cheeses or desserts.

Here in Valdichiana Senese, cantucci are usually soaked in Vin Santo (but don’t waste this precious liqueur: use only a separate small glass to do it). This highly appreciated wine is produced with selected blends and rules that are handed down from generation to generation. It is also famous as a welcome liqueur and is still offered to guests today (and is always appreciated). Despite its diffusion in Tuscan lands, we have a question to which there is still no definite answer: where exactly does Vin Santo come from?

The origin of this particular wine does not seem to be Tuscan and has distant roots in time

We do not exactly know the geographical origin of Vin Santo nor its first diffusion over time. It is acknowledged that it was born as a sweet wine for wealthy classes, nobility and high clergy specifically. We can also affirm that for a long time, in Italy, sweet wines were often imported from Greece, since they were considered the best in circulation. It was the Venetians who started trade relations with Greeks. Therefore, in Veneto we can find Vin Santo productions in certain areas. So, as far as we know, this raisin wine could have origins not Tuscan origins, although there is no absolute certainty.

Another question that we often ask ourselves but to which we do not have certain answers concerns the name of the product

Why is it called Vin Santo? To solve this puzzle we enter a world of legends and assumptions. Some argue that the name comes from the Greek xantos, which means blond/yellow. Others hypothesize a Latin derivation from sanctus, as a wine that is different and appreciated so much that it is considered Saint. Finally, there are also those who claim that the term is connected to its use during All Saints Feast. However, every hypothesis is vague and we do not go so far as to choose a conjecture with certainty. In any case, this slight aura of mystery makes the product even more interesting. And it makes us appreciate it very much.

The aging of this sweet wine is also interesting: after the natural drying period of the grapes in the specific vinsantaie, the product must mature longer than a normal wine, in order to have time to develop its flavour.

The origin and name of this raisin wine are undefined, however, this do not change one aspect: Vin Santo is a symbolic product of Tuscany and Valdichiana Senese

Let’s leave the debate on the origin of this sweet wine and its correct etymology to wine historians and experts and let’s focus on one of the excellences of our Tuscan territory. We are aware of the blends for Vin Santo: we are talking about white grapes such as white Malvasia and Trebbiano Toscano for 70% (alone or jointly). The remaining 30% concerns other suitable white grapes. The production techniques of this product are a true human and cultural heritage. Think that this sweet wine has always been produced at a family level and its traditions and methods have come down to us thanks to the passages of delivery between generations. Each bottle hides a centuries-old history made of programming, passion and family work with attention to the smallest details.

The excellence of Vin Santo in Valdichiana Senese is in Montepulciano

Our local excellence is the Vin Santo di Montepulciano DOC, a product that uses the particular white Grechetto grapes (locally called pulcinculo). It is a highly appreciated wine, the maximum expression of the sweet side of this territory amongst green Tuscan hills, in Valdichiana Senese, bordering with Val d’Orcia. In Montepulciano there is also another truly unique and refined type of Vin Santo, we are talking about Vin Santo Occhio di Pernice. This special blend involves the use of local Sangiovese grapes and therefore perfectly expresses the intense flavour of this land.

If you are intrigued by Vin Santo di Montepulciano DOC, you could try this product in the Box Degustazione di Vin Santo e Pecorino, or in the Box Il pranzo della domenica. The Vin Santo di Montepulciano DOC that you will find in the boxes will make you savor the best of the Tuscan tradition and the true flavor of Valdichiana Senese.