Italian Wine Fact: What Was The First Italian DOC Wine?

Continuing on the Tuscan theme, I realized that I never write about and rarely drink Vernaccia, the only Tuscan DOCG wine and a standout one among the reds. I wrote this post some years ago and thought I would bring it out again. Perhaps Vernaccia will make a comeback along with other Italian whites this year.

Reading through my materials today, I decided to start a new section on my blog called Italian Wine Facts. Today’s factoid is about the first Italian DOC wine. I was surprised to find out that it was Vernaccia di San Gimingnano in 1966. The wine received its DOCG designation in 1993.

Vernaccia is not an easy grape. The wine is generally pretty bitter and acidic. It has to be made from 90% Vernaccia and 10% of other grapes but non-aromatic ones.

I have had many Vernaccia over the years but it has never been my favorite, until this summer when I brought a bottle of wine from Podere la Marronaia called Visla to Cape Cod. It was made with a small percentage of Chardonnay and was at least three years old if not a bit more.