There is a reason when you think of Tuscany an image of yourself sitting in a medieval village square or olive grove drinking chilled tumblers of white wine in the sun springs to mind. The medieval town of San Gimigano is one of the jewels in Tuscany’s crown, and its indigenous Vernaccia grape is said to be one of the oldest in Italy, said to go back to the time of Ancient Rome, and also the first DOC wine in the country.
It’s not just this long history though that makes this such a popular drop, though practice makes perfect and after a couple of thousand years you’d assume they have it pretty close, but rather its lifted and clean aroma, white flowers, pear, and honeysuckle with a lively palate of citrus and almond notes. A thread of grapefruit and citron gives it a strong backbone adding to it's definition. This is the ideal easy drinking white, regardless of where you are.
The Producer
Established: 1990 Owners: Neil & Maria Empson Winemaker: Franco Bernabei Toscolo, an Italian renaissance word meaning Tuscan boy, is Neil and Maria Empson’s labour of love from a long-time passion for this extraordinary region. The Empsons chose friend and star oenologist Franco Bernabei to style the wines and their experience and expertise gives them access to a cross-section of Tuscany’s finest vineyards.
Toscolo Vernaccia comes from San Gimignano, the towered medieval village that is one of Tuscany’s finest gems. Perched on a hill overlooking the Val d’Elsa, its intricate lacework of ancient white stone is set against a fairy tale backdrop of deep green valleys and mountains, seemingly plucked from a Rennaissance fresco. The wine is delicately aromatic with a bouquet of white flowers, pear and honeysuckle with a firm citrusy freshness.
