© Claire Adamson
Vin Santo del Chianti is the DOC title for amber-hued vin santo dessert wines produced in the hills of Tuscany's famous Chianti wine zone. The wines were granted DOC status in 1997, when the seven viticultural sottozone (sub-zones) were also named and delimited. These correspond perfectly to the sub-zones which apply to dry, red Chianti (Chianti Colli Aretini, Chianti Colli Fiorentini, Chianti Colli Senesi, Chianti Colline Pisane, Chianti Montalbano, Chianti Montespertoli and Chianti Rufina).
Wines sold under this DOC come in two key variants (white Vin Santo del Chianti and pink Vin Santo del Chianti Occhio di Pernice), both of which can come in an intensely sweet amabile style or an almost completely dry secco, similar in style to fino sherry. The typical blend used for almost all white vin santo is Trebbiano and Malvasia Bianca, while the pink color of the Occhio di Pernice – so called because it resembles the eye (occhio) of a partridge (pernice) – comes from the minimum 50% use of Sangiovese grapes.
For more information on vin santo wines and how they are produced, see vin santo.
