Where the Towers Meet the Vines: Panizzi Vernaccia di San Gimignano

Vernaccia di San Gimignano was one of my first white wines of Italy that I came to enjoy.  It also was Italy‘s first DOC in 1966 and is still Tuscany’s only white wine with the DOCG designation.  Let’s take a look at this quaint Tuscan town and the Panizzi winery, which is the focus of today’s tasting.  

All About San Gimignano 

I find It's easier to relate to something when you have visited the area from which something originates from.   I have always loved the medieval tower driven, walled town of San Gimignano set in the Siena province of northwest Tuscany.  It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage site with its 14 medieval towers that still remain that were once built by 13th century rival noble families where height ruled.  

It’s such a great town to explore whether you stay over or make it one of your stops while you’re touring the Tuscan countryside.  Just make sure to sit back and have a glass of their Vernaccia di San Gimignano in one of the many cellars open for tasting in the town center or just grab a gelato and take in the daily living of the locals. 

Copyright of Consorzio del Vernaccia di San Gimignano

Here are some of the top sights to visit when making a stop in San Gimignano. 

• Stroll down Via San Matteo and Via San Giovanni making pit stops at the local shops eventually arriving at the center of it all, Piazza della Cisterna. 
• Climb the tallest tower of San Gimignano, Torre Grossa, for sweeping views over the hills of the Val d’Elsa. 
• Take in sunset at Rocca di Montestaffoli with views over the towers and the rest of the countryside. 
• Visit San Gimignano’s main church, Collegiata di San Gimignano, and admire the Renaissance frescoes. 
• Enjoy the local specialties including saffron and wild boar, called cinghiale (my all time favorite).  

The Panizzi Winery 

Founded in 1979 by Giovani Panizzi, he moved to this area to ”discover his best self convinced at the ago of 50 he could reinvent help”, per the winery’s site.  He bought the Santa Marguerite estate on the outskirts of the walls of San Gimignano, occupying only a few hectares.  The vineyards and their olive groves are surrounded by forests, which help to moderate the temperature. 

Giovanni was a visionary and it took him 10 years of experimentation until he released with first wine in 1989, which is the wine I’m sharing with you today, the green label Vernaccia di Sam Gimignano DOCG.  Five years following that harvest he released his Riserva and also came out with Sangiovese wines.  The winery practices organic farming without the use of chemical fertilizers and the vineyards are hand harvested for the best care and selection of grapes.   

In 2005, Giovanni sold off the winery to the Nicolas family where it is run today by Simone whom takes an innovative approaching to winemaking and has added Pinot Noir to the collection of wines produced. 

See a video of the winery for yourself on their site.

The Panizzi Wine 

Today I’m sharing the 2023 Panizzi Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG which is made up of 95% Vernaccia and 5% Incrocio Manzoni.  The grapes are sourced from 4 of their vineyard sites of 30-year-old vines and re grown on tufaceous, sandy soil with yellow clay.  The wine is vinified and aged on the lees in stainless for 5 months.   

This wine was light-bodied and fresh on the palate with crisp, mouthwatering acidity.  Bright citrus of lemon and grapefruit with some tart green apple.  A slight bitterness on the finish along with some nice minerality ending with nice length.  ABV 13.5%, SRP $18-20.  This wine should be enjoyed within the next 5 years.   

Pairing with Vernaccia di San Gimignano

With the summer nights and a busy schedule now that we are back into football season in my household I wanted something easy on the grill, but flavorful.  In my selection of food pairing with this Vernaccia di San Gimignano I decided to go with some zucchini from our garden, homemade pesto also from our garden and marinated Tuscan chicken.  

The garlic and herb Tuscan marinade I used consisted of extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, garlic and your choice of fresh spices (oregano, rosemany, basil).  Make sure you let it sit overnight if you have the time or at least a couple hours to absorb the flavors.  Every element of this dish paired just right with the crisp, freshness of this Vernaccia di San Gimignano.  A perfect summertime pairing!

The best way to reach San Gimignano 

If you find yourself in Florence, or even Siena, and are looking to explore the Tuscan countryside, San Gimignano can be reached by car, my preferred style for flexibility, within an hours drive on the SR2 (Via Cassia).  If you opt out of renting a car, you can always take the bus from Florence to the town of Poggibonsi, which is about an hour, and then a local bus that is about a 20 minute ride to Porta San Giovanni.  If you’re taking the train from Siena to Poggibonsi it is only about 30 minutes. 

If you find yourself in Tuscany make sure to venture to this enchanting town that rises out of the Tuscan hills and enjoy a glass of Vernaccia di San Gimignano.  You’ll be glad you did! 

 

You can find Vernaccia di San Gimignano wines to sample on your own at Wine.com. I may receive compensation for any wines purchased through the affiliate link in support of Vino Travels. 

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Lake Garda in a Glass: Exploring Zeni's Lugana Wines

Vino Travels has released it’s first quarterly exclusive newsletter to subscribers last month and the feature was on the wonderful wine appellation of Lugana wines.  If you’re a subscriber I’d love to hear from you if you enjoyed it or if you want to see something different in the next newsletter.  If you missed it and want to learn more about the Lugana wine region including information on the native Turbiana grape, typical pairings, an interview with the President of the Consorzio Tutela Lugana, and places to see, just visit my site at www.vinotravelsitaly.com and subscribe. I’ll send you a copy!

Cantina Zeni winery 

This week I decided to follow up sharing a Lugana wine from renowned Cantina Zeni that I tasted while preparing for my newsletter Release.  The Zeni estate was founded over 150 years ago back in 1870 by Bartolomeo Zeni Whom was a traveling wine merchant at the time.  Gaetano “Nino” Zeni Helped to modernize the business and established the wineries we know today.  Today, the winery is led by the 5th generation, Nino’s children, Elena, Federico and Fausto.   

Elena, Federica, Fausto Zeni - sourced from Cantina Zeni

Cantina Zeni’s winery can be found in two locations, the main estate is in Bardolino on the eastern shores of Lake Garda and the other is in the Valpolicella wine region.  They occupy over 60 acres of vineyards with their estate grapes, but they also contract with respected growers to help supplement some of their production.   

Sirmione on Lake Garda

The Wine 

I tasted the 2024 Zeni Vigne Alte Lugana DOC wine that is labeled as Trebbiano.  It makes it a little easier for the average consumer that may not know what a wine from Lugana is made from since most labels don’t bare the grape.  This wine is made from 100% Turbiana, also known as Trebbiano di Lugana.  The grapes are grown in white clay, limestone rich soils.  The grapes are hand harvested and then macerated on the skins and gently pressed.   

“Vigne Alte” stands for tall vines and probably represents how the vineyards in Bardolino are set on morainic hills.  This wine was pale straw in color with aromas of stone fruit and tropical notes.  It was nice lightly bodied with crisp acidity brightened with some lemon citrus, pineapple and a little tang/bitterness.  ABV 13%, SRP $20-22. 

If you visit the Zeni wine estate in Bardolino you can also experience their treasured wine museum, which was a vision of Nino’s established in 1991. 

You can find many Lugana wines to sample on your own at Wine.com. I may receive compensation for any wines purchased through the affiliate link in support of Vino Travels. 

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Why Friuli Sets the Bar with Pinot Grigio - A Tasting Note on Ca' del Sarto

The warm weather is in full swing and I am personally reaching for many of my Italian white wines, rosé, sparkling wines.  This week I tasted the 2023 Ca’ del Sarto Pinot Grigio from the Friuli DOC of northeastern Italy.  If you’ve been following along my journey you already know that I love the white wines of northern Italy, but after my trip a few years back to the Friuli wine region I have a deeper respect for what the producers are doing in this tiny nook of Italy. 

Yes Pinot Grigio is probably one of Italy’s most popular white grapes, but Pinot Grigio isn’t just Pinot Grigio if you’ve had the quality and variety of Pinot Grigio produced in the northeastern part of Italy.  You can take a look back at my tasting of Pinot Grigio in Friuli and you’ll see just from the color of the Pinot Grigio in the glass that producers can produce many different styles of Pinot Grigio.  If you break outside the mold of the all mass marketed Pinot Grigio sold on the market and look for those sold in the wine regions of Friuli Venezia Giuglia and the Trentino Alto Adige you will be in for a treat. 

I didn’t find much in my research on Ca’ del Sarto other than the fact that it’s a collaboration with many of the top producers and Enotec Imports as the negociant since 1998.  They work with producers that producing hand-crafted and small batch productions with a focus on quality grapes.  The story began with two friends in Friuli who handpicked producers to work with and sourced Pinot Grigio from them where the wines resulted in “authentic expressions and modern wines”.   

The Wine 

The 2023 Ca’ del Sarto Pinot Grigio Friuli DOC was a brilliant straw color in the glass.  Floral, Tropical (pineapple) aromas along with lemon citrus and stone fruit.  This wine was dry, medium-bodied on the palate and refreshing with a puckering, acid backbone.  Tart citrus notes with small touches of stone fruit through the lingering finish.  I scooped this wine up on sale for $9, but online it ranges up to $16. ABV 12.5% 

Pairings with Pinot Grigio 

This wine will pair well with a both shellfish and seafood, pork or chicken and lighter fare including salads and appetizers. 

You can find many Pinot Grigio options on Wine.com and I may receive compensation for any wines purchased through the affiliate link in support of Vino Travels. 

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