In the glass
Aroma: green apple, lemon zest, almond blossom, wet stone
Palate: green apple, almond skin, salinity, white pepper
Textbook Pancole Vernaccia: green-apple and lemon-zest brightness with the indigenous almond-bitter finish and wet-stone salinity.
What it pairs with
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Crostini di fegatini
Find crostini di fegatini on TableJourney →
Chicken-liver crostini and Vernaccia is a Tuscan local rite; bitterness of liver meets almond. -
Lardo di Colonnata on warm bread
Cured pork fat finds the wine's almond bitter and white-pepper lift. -
Grilled white fish with lemon
Lemon acid mirrors the wine's citrus; salinity meets the fish.
How to serve Cesani Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Allow 5 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and pour. Open and pour directly. No decanting required for this style.
- Serve at 8-10°C. Cellar temperature (8-10°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a smaller all-purpose white glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Crostini di fegatini, Lardo di Colonnata on warm bread, Grilled white fish with lemon. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
The Cesani Vernaccia has been bottled since the 1960s from the family's Pancole vineyards 6 km from San Gimignano. Vincenzo Cesani and the next-generation Cesani sisters (Letizia, Marialuisa, Sara) farm organically across 22 hectares.
- 1951 — Guido and Annunziata Cesani acquire the first land parcel at Pancole
- 1965 — First Cesani Vernaccia bottling
Facts
- Producer
- Azienda Agricola Cesani
- Grapes
- Vernaccia (100%)
- Classification
- Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG
- Oak
- Stainless steel, no oak
- ABV
- 12.5%
- Price
- EUR 11 to 16 at retail
- Drinking window
- 1 to 4 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1965
Scores
- Vinous 90 (2022 vintage, reviewed 2024)
Frequently asked about Cesani Vernaccia di San Gimignano
What does Cesani Vernaccia di San Gimignano taste like?
On the nose, green apple, lemon zest, almond blossom, wet stone. On the palate, green apple, almond skin, salinity, white pepper. Structurally medium-bodied, high acidity with a medium finish. Textbook Pancole Vernaccia: green-apple and lemon-zest brightness with the indigenous almond-bitter finish and wet-stone salinity.
When should I drink Cesani Vernaccia di San Gimignano?
Drink 1 to 4 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Cesani Vernaccia di San Gimignano?
Crostini di fegatini is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Lardo di Colonnata on warm bread and Grilled white fish with lemon. Chicken-liver crostini and Vernaccia is a Tuscan local rite; bitterness of liver meets almond.
What grapes are in Cesani Vernaccia di San Gimignano?
The blend is Vernaccia (100%). The wine is classified as Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG.