Tenuta Le Calcinaie Vernaccia di San Gimignano 2007

As summer approaches my heart and mind turn to thoughts and feelings of wonderful seasonal dinners accompanied by wonderful Italian white wine.

Wines that compliment and accentuate the fresh flavors of summer cuisine.

A perfect example is this Vernacchia di San Gimignano found at Amanti Vino in Montclair, NJ.

For those unfamiliar with Italian whites like Vernacchia, let me give you a shorter primer.

Vernacchia or  Vernaccia is the grape, one with a lengthy history, it is believed that this grape with records dating back to 1276, was previously originally imported either from the Cinque Terre region (Liguria), or from Spain or Greece. In any case, over the centuries the vines adapted superbly to the soil around San Gimignano, and it is said that by the Renaissance Vernaccia was considered Italy's finest white wine.

San Gimignano is, of course, a city in the province of Sienna, Tuscany. It is in a very beautiful part of Italy and has a very long history.

Tenuta Le Calcinaie is the winery, 3 kilometers from the center of San Gimignano, where this wine is produced.

Simone Santini, the owner of this small and well-run estate says:

"Ever since I earned my degree in wine technology at the Siena Agrarian Institute, I've dreamed of dedicating myself to nature and wine. I was finally able to do this, planting my first vinyard in 1986 and beginning to make wine in 1993."

Since 1995 his estate "produced grapes by biological methods. Then from 2001 they adopted a certified biological process. All efforts go towards a continuing qualitative improvement of the wines we produce: quality above all."

Tenuta Le Calcinaie Vernaccia di San Gimignano 2007

Colour: Pale straw yellow

Nose: Intense, fine, fruity, green apple, white flowers

Flavour: Fresh, fragrant, quite soft, slightly tasty, easy to drink

Serving suggestions: As an aperitif, cold fish hors d'oeuvres

Comments

[Matt Nowell]

I am looking for this wine and if you know please email me at [email protected]

[David]

Wonderful on its own. I find the complexity of its body fascinating given its pale clear color. This wine with pear/green apple aroma shows surprising body.