Italy — wine
Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG
Italy's first DOC (1966), subsequently DOCG. Vernaccia grape — indigenous, high acid, bitter almond finish. From the medieval tower town of San Gimignano. Commercial versions are often thin and forgettable; the serious single-vineyard versions (Montenidoli, Panizzi) are compelling. Now reviving through producer focus on terroir and lower yields.
Benchmark products
Vintage assessments
| Year | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | — | Good year; typical Tuscan conditions; Vernaccia shows its characteristic bitter almond finish |
| 2022 | 84 | Good vintage. Reliable quality. Vernaccia's characteristic bitter almond note well expressed. |
| 2021 | 85 | Good. Classic mineral freshness. Vernaccia's light body and clean finish ideal for summer drinking. |
| 2020 | — | Excellent vintage; Vernaccia shows citrus, bitter almond and mineral with unusual depth; best wines outstanding |
| 2019 | 87 | Very good. Vernaccia at classic best — citrus, almonds, bitter finish. Teruzzi and San Quirico delivering. |
| 2018 | — | Warm vintage; Vernaccia riper than usual; almond-bitter finish slightly less pronounced; accessible young wines |
| 2017 | — | Good conditions; Panizzi tufa soils showed resilience; Vernaccia fresh and aromatic with typical bitterness |
| 2016 | — | Superb Vernaccia di San Gimignano vintage; Riserva from this year showing remarkable ageing complexity |