Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG

Tuscany's one important white, from a native grape grown on the sandy clay hills around the towers of San Gimignano. Expect a pale straw color, green apple, citrus pith, chamomile, and a saline, faintly bitter almond finish with medium body and crisp acid. Riserva versions, sometimes aged in wood, gain waxy texture, honey and nut notes and can go five to eight years. Panizzi, Montenidoli and Cesani are the names to know.