Il Colombaio di Santa Chiara

In the region around the imposing towers of the medieval town of San Gimignano, oenologist Alessio Logi has dedicated himself to what is probably Tuscany's most famous white wine. Vernaccia di San Gimignano is one of the oldest white wines in Italy, mentioned in records dating back to 1276 and in Dante's Divine Comedy. This white wine is therefore characterised by a centuries-old history of great storage potential and complex flavour aromas.

The Tuscan Vernaccia grape variety, which however should not be confused with the red Vernatsch from South Tyrol, captivates with a great expressive potential, through which it shows how the territory and its cultivation affect the taste. The young winemaker was inspired by his father Mario to extract the complex flavours of this white variety from his vineyards in an environmentally friendly way.

In a region as famous for red wine as Tuscany, Alessio has been passionately pressing his highly awarded Vernaccia white wines at his Il Colombaio di Santa Chiara winery since 2002. He is assisted in the cellar by his older brothers Giampiero and Stefano, while their eighty-something father Mario still sets the pace in the vineyards.

"My father taught me that the vines are a reflection of the soil and that you can improve the quality in the cellar, but not change it," Alessio tells us in conversation. That is why the clayey soils of his vineyards have been cultivated only according to organic guidelines from day one. Since working closely with the gifted oenologist Nicola Berti, the winemaker has also been working with much shorter maceration times, bringing out the fruity, spicy taste of the Vernaccia grape and its typically fine, tart almond note much more precisely.

What impresses us most about this family-run winery is the combination of the father's many years of experience and the contemporary awareness of the three sons to dedicate themselves to their Vernaccia production with respect for the environment - which is undoubtedly reflected in the great personality, structure and storability of their organic white wines.

From the refreshingly fruity Selvabianca, fermented in stainless steel, Il Colombaio di Santa Chiara's portfolio ranges to creamier, richer versions such as the powerful single-vineyard Campo alla Pieve or the 25-hectolitre barrel-aged Riserva Albereta. This diversity does credit to the history and reputation of this ancient white wine from San Gimignano and is a guarantee of uncompromising top quality. SUPERIORE.DE