Vineyards And Olive Groves Near San Gimignano, Siena Italy Stock Photo

Vineyards and olive groves near San Gimignano. The first certain historical information on Vernaccia in Italy dates back to 1276. Probably the medieval Vernaccia was a white wine, rather sweet and alcoholic, so much so that it resembled the `Greek` wines that were all the rage in those times. Vernaccia di San Gimignano found its admirers among popes such as Martino IV, writers such as Dante Alighieri and Giovanni Boccaccio, powerful such as Ludovico il Moro and Lorenzo the Magnificent. Vernaccia has a straw yellow color with golden reflections that are accentuated with aging. It goes well with fish, white meats, vegetables, Tuscan ham, `ribollita` and many summer dishes.