Vin Santo (Italy)
In Tuscany you drink Vin Santo with Cantucci (Almond Biscuits)
Vin Santo Flavors
Typical flavors are: Citrus. Apricot. Tropical Fruit. Dried Fruit. Caramel. Honey. Cream. Herbal. Earthy. Smoke. Spices. Licorice and Mineral.
 Orange Zest |
 Apricot |
 Tropical Fruit |
 Raisins |
 Figs |
 Nuts |
 Caramel |
 Honey |
 Herbal |
 Truffle |
 Licorice |
 Mineral |
Vin Santo Profile
Vin Santo are Full Bodied, Rich and Elegant.
| SUGAR: | Very Sweet (100-300 g/liter) |
| BODY: | Full |
| ACIDITY: | Medium |
| ALCOHOL | 15-18% ABV |
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Serving temperature: 13-14°C (55-57°F) |
Food Pairing Vin Santo
Vin Santo is best as an Aperitif, with Cheese or Desserts:
 Aperitif |
 Cantucci |
 Panforte |
 Creme Brulee |
 Foie Gras |
 Blue Cheese |
Excellent Pairing
Biscotti. Cantucci.
Italian Torte (Cakes). Panforte. Nut Cakes. Walnut Tart. Peacan Pie.
Christmas Desserts. Dark Chocolate. Dried Fruit.
Foie Gras. Paté.
Blue Cheese. Gorgonsola. Roquefort.
The wine should always be as sweet, or sweeter than what you are eating.
Vin Santo Styles
The style of Vin Santo varies depending on the production methods and the grapes used.
The sweetness can vary from bone dry (like Fino Sherry) to extremely sweet. The colour can range from a pale amber to neon orange.
White grapes are most widely used (Trebbiano and Malvasia), but red grapes (like Sangiovese) can also be used to produce a amber-red sweet wine called Occhio di Pernice (Eye of the Partridge).
DOC Vin Santo
In Tuscany, there are four DOCs that make only Vin Santo. Each of these corresponds to a major red wine DOCG zone:
- Vin Santo del Chianti DOC
- Vin Santo di Carmignano DOC
- Vin Santo Sant'Antimo DOC
- Vin Santo del Montepulciano DOC
Other DOC zones:
- Trentino Vino Santo DOC
- Offida Passerina Vin Santo DOCG
About Vin Santo
Vin Santo or Vinsanto (Sacred Wine) is a sweet dessert wine from Tuscany in Italy, most often made from the grapes Trebbiano and Malvasia.
Vin Santo is made from dried grapes, and the degree of alcohol, sweetness and oxidation will vary a lot between manufacturers.
Cantucci or Biscotti are almond cookies from Tuscany. They are made without oil or butter, and baked twice to crisp perfection. Biscotti literally means twice (bis) cooked (cotti).
Vin Santo Cheese Pairing
Vin Santo pairs very well with rich blue cheeses, but can also be enjoyed with aged and matured cheeses.
The flavours of a salty cheese and a sweet Vin Santo are both strong enough to stand up to each other.
Wine Region Toscana
Toscana is famous for the majestetic city of Firenze
Ponte Vecchio in Firenze
Black Grapes |
White Grapes |
65% Sangiovese |
6% Trebbiano |
Rosé Wines |
Sweet Wines |
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Denominations
Toscana has 11 DOCGs and 41 DOCs. Below is a list of the DOCGs.
Sangiovese:
Chianti DOCG (70% Sangiovese)
Chianti Classico DOCG (80% Sangiovese)
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG (100% Sangiovese)
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG (70% Sangiovese)
Montecucco Sangiovese DOCG (90% Sangiovese)
Morellino di Scansano DOCG (85% Sangiovese)
Super Tuscan:
Carmignano DOCG (Sangiovese, Cab Sauvignon/Franc, Merlot)
Suvereto Rosso DOCG (Cab Sauvignon, Merlot)
Val di Cornia Rosso DOCG (Sangiovese, Cab Sauvignon, Merlot)
White:
Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG (85% Vernatcha)
Passito:
Elba Aleatico Passito DOCG (100% Aleatico)
Alcohol can be addictive. Always drink in moderation.
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