Description
The Vin Santo di Montepulciano PDO is reserved for the following types of wine: Vin Santo and Vin Santo Occhio di Pernice.
Production Area
The production area of Vin Santo di Montepulciano PDO is within parts of the territory of the municipality of Montepulciano in the Province of Siena, in the Tuscany region.
Description of product typologies
Vin Santo di Montepulciano PDO varies from golden yellow to intense amber; the nose reveals aromas which open with notes of raisin, dried fig and apricot jam, followed by aromas of honey, candied-fruit, almond, sandal and vanilla; the taste corresponds to the nose, offering a smooth, sweet attack balanced by the alcohol, a full-body, intense flavours, pleasant freshness and a persistent finish reminiscent of dried fig, honey, apricot jam and almond. It can display Riserva on the label. Vin Santo di Montepulciano PDO Occhio di Pernice ranges from amber to topaz, with an ample reddish-brown rim that becomes browner with age; the nose is rich and concentrated, offering fragrances of red candied fruit and black cherry and plum jam; it is full, harmonious, complex and almost creamy on the palate. Grapes destined for the production of Vin Santo di Montepulciano PDO wines must be carefully selected and left to dry in suitable environments – partial drying with the aid of ventilated air is also permitted – until the grapes acquire the sugar content needed to produce the wine. The grapes are then mashed: those destined for the production of Vin Santo di Montepulciano PDO wine cannot mashed before December 1st, and those for Vin Santo di Montepulciano PDO Riserva or Occhio di Pernice not before January 1st. The wines are then left to age in wooden kegs. Depending on the type of wine, the capacity of these ranges from a minimum of 75 litres for Vin Santo di Montepulciano PDO Occhio di Pernice and 125 litres for Vin Santo di Montepulciano PDO Riserva, to a maximum of 300 litres for Vin Santo di Montepulciano PDO. The ageing period varies from a minimum of 3 years for Vin Santo di Montepulciano PDO, 5 years for Vin Santo di Montepulciano PDO Riserva, and up to 6 years for Occhio di Pernice wine.
Geographical and sub-area specifications
It is mandatory for Vin Santo di Montepulciano Protected Designation of Origin wines to display the geographical term Tuscany on the label.