The wine is sometimes referred to as “Holy wine” owing to its use for Holy Communion. Although Vin Santo is originally from Tuscany, the style of wine is authorized in several Controlled Designation of Origin (DOC) and Indicazione Geografica Tipica(IGT). DOC and IGT are Italian wine classification rules governing the quality of wine from a particular geographical region or for a specific style of wine. Chianti, San Gimignano, and Montepulciano are some of the DOCs permitted to produce this wine.
Vin Santo wines are made from white grapes varieties such as Trebbiano and Malvasia. However, a rose style of the Vin Santo is produced using the Sangiovese grape and is known as “Ochio di Pernice.” Vin Santo wine is a sweet dessert wine and can be distinguished by its signature sweetness and tropical fruit aromas. The wine is also known as straw wines, owning to the method of preparation. The grapes are sun-dried in warm and ventilation indoor spaces. This process concentrates the sugars in the grapes. The dried grapes are then crushed and fermented. After fermentation, the wine is then aged in barrels made from oak, chestnut, or cherry wood depending on the style. The aging process lasts for a minimum of 3 years. The wine color usually varies from dark amber to neon orange while the sweetness varies from bone dry to extremely sweet.
