The Italy Wine Project

Regions / Tuscany

DOCStill huntingModerate

Vin Santo del Chianti DOC

Tuscany's classic 'holy wine': Trebbiano and Malvasia dried on mats through the winter, then sealed in small caratelli barrels with the mother yeast and left in the attic for at least three years. The result is amber to bronze, oxidative and nutty, with dried apricot, fig, walnut, caramel and orange peel, ranging from lusciously sweet to almost dry. Rufina houses like Selvapiana, Frescobaldi and Villa di Vetrice make the best-known versions under this broader DOC. Serve with cantucci, or better, on its own at cellar temperature.

Still hunting

I'm still looking for a bottle of this.

If you make Vin Santo del Chianti, import it, or know who does, the form takes two minutes and I reply to every one.

Can you help me get one?

Bottles I'm chasing

ProducerWinePriceBuy
Villa di Vetrice (Grati)
Vin Santo del Chianti Rufina
Old-school Rufina Vin Santo, often released with a decade of age; walnut, toffee, dried fig, moderately sweet with a dry, nutty finish; excellent value.
$28 to $38Wine-Searcher
Selvapiana
Vin Santo del Chianti Rufina
Elegant, less heavy than most (Dalla Terra); dried apricot, almond, orange peel, bright acidity, long.
$40 to $55Wine-Searcher
Fattoria di Basciano
Vin Santo del Chianti Rufina
Renzo Masi's family estate; honeyed, caramel and hazelnut, a cheaper introduction to the style.
$22 to $30Wine-Searcher