Vernaccia facts for kids
Vernaccia is a type of white wine grape. It's found in many Italian wines, but it's most famous for a wine from Tuscany called Vernaccia di San Gimignano.
People who study grapes, called ampelographers, have found that Vernaccia has many different versions, like different types of apples. However, some grapes in Italy that are also called "Vernaccia" are not actually related to this one. For example, the grapes used in a wine from Sardinia called Vernaccia di Oristano are different. Also, the red grape from Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol known as Vernatsch is not related. The black grape used in the sparkling red wine Vernaccia di Serrapetrona from Marche is also different.
A possible reason for this is that the name "Vernaccia" comes from a word meaning "local." So, it could be used for any grape that grows in a specific area.
History of the Grape
The Vernaccia grape from Tuscany seems to be very old. Experts aren't sure if it first came from Eastern Europe, ancient Greece, or Ancient Rome. Long ago, in the Middle Ages, a Vernaccia wine called Vernage was very popular in London, England.
What Vernaccia Wine is Like
The white Vernaccia grape from San Gimignano is the most famous type. It makes a fresh, crisp wine. This wine has a good amount of acidity, which makes it taste bright, and it often has flavors of citrus fruits like lemon. Sometimes, it's mixed with another grape called Trebbiano. But often, it's made only from Vernaccia grapes.
Other Vernaccia Grapes
The Vernaccia grape from Sardinia, used in Vernaccia di Oristano, is known as Vernaccia di Oristano. In the 1960s, two other wines from Sardinia were called Sardinian Gold and Sardinian Silver. The grape from Marche, used in Vernaccia di Serrapetrona, is called Vernaccia Nera.
See also
In Spanish: Vernaccia para niños
