Vin Santo Wine - the sanctuary of desserwines

Vin Santo - cultural asset of Tuscany

There is something mystical about Vin Sant o sweet wine. Embedded in the rich history of Italy, more specifically Tuscany, Vin Santo is more than just a delicious dessert wine. It epitomizes the landscape, the people, the philosophy of time-honored tradition. The winegrowers of the sweet wine remember the experience of their predecessors, although the traditional production of Vin Santo is threatened by modern EU regulations. Nevertheless, the Italian winemakers press a Vin Santo as always, adapting here and there to the regulations, but always remaining faithful to the origin. Vin Santo dessert wine today is as it used to be, not as the present wants it to be. Malvasia and Trebbiano, partially raisined, air-dried, seemingly endlessly aged in ancient caratelli barrel. Vin Santo is not for quick enjoyment, but a decelerated trip into the past, lined with velvety memories and an almost sacred note.

Vin Santo production

For the production of Vin Santo, mainly the two grape varieties Trebbiano and Malvasia are used, which are air-dried on wooden racks directly after the harvest. For weeks, the grapes rosin and concentrate the sweetness in the heart of the fruit considerably. Depending on the degree of sweetness of the grapes, pressing begins with great care and gentle pressing. Consequently, the finished wine is stored for at least three years in sealed barrels, called caratelli, under the roof. Thus, the Vin Santo is exposed to constant temperature variations between summer and winter. This gives the Italian dessert wine from Tuscany robustness and gives the Vin Santo its characteristic thick body. To enjoy your Vin Santo in style, all that's missing are the crispy cantuccini, which complement the dessert wine with fine sweetness.

One dessert wine, one name, many legends

When you hear the name Vin Santo, you inevitably think of attributing sacred attributes to the sweet wine. This is not completely out of the air, because according to legend, a Franciscan monk used Vin Santo to alleviate the suffering of the sick and give them relief from pain. In addition, Vin Santo is ideal for church fairs, as the good shelf life of an opened bottle proved practical when wine was needed only now and then for ceremonial occasions. Another origin for the name of the Italian sweet wine was found about a century later. A Greek bishop, while drinking the wine, realized that it was santox, in German yellow. In fact, Vin Santo is golden yellow, almost amber, rather than simply yellow. Historians also suspect a connection of the term with the Crusades. Knights who tasted a sweet wine on the island of Santorini on the crossing to the Holy Land discovered a similar wine in Tuscany on the journey home and compared it to the wine from the Mediterranean island of Santorini. All these legends are plausible, none has been proven to date, however, Vin Santo tastes the same in the past as it does today - simply heavenly.

Things to know about Vin Santo

What is Vin Santo dessert wine?

Vin Santo is a sweet wine from Italy, mainly from the regions of Tuscany, Marche and Umbria. It is produced in a very traditional way and is considered by wine connoisseurs as an absolute specialty of Tuscany. The sweet character in the golden yellow and almost oily body includes notes of nuts, raisins, butter and honey and nestles smoothly on the palate. The typical Malvasia and Trebbiano grape varieties are placed on large wooden racks to air dry before pressing. Between December 1 and March 31, the Vin Santo may be further processed. Finally, the wine is stored in wooden barrels in the attic of the winery for at least 3 years, and at least 4 years for the Riserva quality level.

What goes well with Vin Santo?

Vin Santo is perfectly complemented by cantuccini and sweet pastries. In addition, dried fruits, cakes and spicy cheese variations harmonize with the Italian dessert wine. Vin Santo also serves as a companion to all sorts of contemplative occasions, festivities, to the café and as a conclusion to a cozy dinner.

How to serve Vin Santo?

The ideal drinking temperature for a Vin Santo is between 8 and 14° C, depending on the taste and ageing. Serve the Vin Santo sweet wine in a sherry or port glass to fully develop the aroma. Small tip: Often cantuccini are dunked into the glass, but that leaves a crumbly and almost undrinkable residue. Therefore, place a piece of cantuccini on the tongue and let the Vin Santo slowly run over it. Tastes the same, and the glass remains crumb-free.

How long can Vin Santo be stored?

Vin Santo has good storage potential and can certainly be kept in your own wine cellar for 10 years or more. However, pay attention to the vintage of your Vin Santo, because a dessert wine that has already been aged for decades in the barrel is not necessarily able to survive a long storage period. Even an opened bottle of Vin Santo will keep closed for a few weeks, but will lose some freshness over time.

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