March 08: One of the highlights of the visit to San Gimignano for Anteprima Vernaccia di Sam Gimignano is a special Tasting at Sala Dente, a beautiful, antique 500-year old hall full of beautiful frescos on the walls adding another dimension to the Face-off Tasting of local wines with that of another wine which was Ansonica this year, writes Subhash Arora who is always curious about the huge demand to attend, disappointing many people who are not invited or fail to reserve their seats
Christened as ‘White Wines and its Land’ the 14th edition of the Anteprima Vernaccia di Sam Gimignano, this annual seminar ‘Ancient Sea and Modern Sea: special ties to the Mediterranean ’ was held for those who had registered for it specially. It was chaired by Letizia Cesani, President and moderated by the journalist and food and wine critic Leonardo Romanelli. City Mayor Giacomo Bassi was present to lend support to the seminar and welcome the 60+ guests that filled the hall.
Not afraid of the competition with other white wines of Italy and indeed Europe, the Consorzio San Gimignano has been organising tasting in the past 14 editions at the beautiful, historical Sala Dante in the main square of the Town Hall in Piazza del Duomo, a special tasting for the Italian and international journalists where 12 wines-6 wine from different producers of San Gimignano and the other 6 made with Ansonica grapes from different parts of Italy including Tuscany and in fact even from Europe, to compare the characteristics through tasting. Following 12 wines were poured:
Each producer of Vernaccia was present at the head table and spoke in brief about the wine, the winery and the philosophy of winemaking. Leonardo talked about Ansonica besides comparison with 
the local wine paired with Ansonica. Known also as Inzolia, it is a grape of western Sicily and also grown in southern Tuscany.
Ansonica or also known as Inzolia is a white Italian grape variety in west Sicily where it is planted primarily to produce Marsala wine. The grape is noted for its nutty aroma and sometimes makes fuller bodied wines. San Gimignano chooses varietals like this just for comparison of wines every year. The objective is always to enjoy the similarity and difference in the flavours.
Perhaps it is the venue which appears so sublime and with a 500 year old history and art or perhaps it is the guided and Interactive tasting of 12 wines that it is in great demand.
The event is always booked out and unless you were invited and confirmed to attend, you cannot be present, making it even more exclusive. Conducted earlier only in Italian language, this time there was also translation facilities available in English, making the tasting even more delicious 
and comprehensible. Generally, tasting and the order of wines and their style is blind so one is expected to also identify the wine by the grape. But this time it was simpler-they were served alternately. Also, young vintages 2015-17 were poured -both for the local wines and Ansonica.
The Sala Dante weaves magic into the atmosphere and is a perfect venue though it could be taxing to climb up to the room on 2nd floor for some people. It certainly adds to the memory of San 
Gimignano and its wines and makes you want to come back, year after year.
For a few related earlier Articles, please visit:
Tuscan Tasting 2019: I have lost my Heart in Sam Gimignano
Anteprime Toscana 2018: Unique Tasting of Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Book Review: Vernaccia di San Gimignano- Book by Armando Castagno
Tuscany Taste: 11th Anteprima Vernaccia di San Gimignano 2016
Tuscany Taste 2015: Scintillating San Gimignano
Tuscany Taste 2014: I lost my Heart in San Gimignano
Subhash Arora
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