The cellar index

WineCollection 62

Vin Santo

Dried-grape wine with an intimate register of nuts, dried fruit and patient cellar ageing.

Origin & traditionItaly · especially Tuscany

Character & context

Understanding Vin Santo

Tuscan Vin Santo traditionally begins with grapes dried after harvest, followed by fermentation and ageing in small barrels. Trebbiano and Malvasia are familiar reference points, while red-grape versions also exist. Sweetness varies: select an explicitly sweet bottling for dessert rather than assuming every Vin Santo has the same richness. Producer choices leave room for fresh fruit, nutty depth and an oxidative character.

Further reading: Consorzio Vino Chianti — Vin Santo del Chianti · Fèlsina — Vin Santo

Read related observations