San Gimignano is located north of Siena in the heart of Tuscany, central Italy. This UNESCO World Heritage site is rich in viticultural history, with winemaking traditions dating back to the Etruscan era. Today it has its own San Gimignano DOC title (granted in August 1996) and is home to Tuscany's only white DOCG wine – Vernaccia di San Gimignano. Most of the vineyards surrounding this medieval town are devoted to the latter; in 2014, only 43 hectares (106 acres) were listed as producing San Gimignano DOC wines.
The vineyards of San Gimignano must be planted at an altitude of no more than 500 meters (1640ft) above sea level and are grown on chalk soils, which give the wines a slight mineral character. There are several styles of wine made under this classification: two kinds of rosso (also made as novello and riserva), two types of vin santo and a rosato.
The key red grape in this classified zone is – as is the case for much Tuscan wine – Sangiovese, which must make up at least half of half the rosso blend wine; 40 percent may comprise the international grapes Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Merlot and Pinot Nero, with a carte blance for the remainder. Plans have been mooted to increase the amount of Sangiovese in this wine to 70 percent, with a maximum 20 percent of French varieties and the final 10 percent to include Canaiolo and Colorino. Varietal wines can also made from Sangiovese and the above French varieties.
The local vin santo wines combine at least 50 percent Malvasia del Chianti with the dominant white variety of the area, Vernaccia, and Trebbiano Toscano. The rosato version of this special dessert wine, known as Occhio di Pernice, uses at least 50 percent Sangiovese.
