Montenidoli Tradizionale Vernaccia

Vernaccia di San Gimignano, Italy

Elisabetta Fagiuoli's skin-contact Vernaccia — one of Italy's most distinctive and philosophically important white wines. Extended maceration produces a golden, textural wine with dried citrus, bitter almond, mineral tufa, beeswax, and a wildness that recalls the ancient Etruscan winemaking tradition. Polarizing and profound.

Pairing intelligence

• starter: Tuscan bread salad and Tuscan white wine — Vernaccia's mineral freshness and bitter almond character lifts the panzanella's summer richness; basil bridges the herbal notes
• main: Vernaccia's bitter almond and mineral character is one of the few whites that can handle offal's intensity; the wine's slight bitterness mirrors the tripe's richness; tomato bridges the acidity