The process Malvasia grapes go through to make Vin Santo dessert wine is absolutely gorgeous!
These are some photos from Italy Food Root’s trip to a Tuscan vin santinaia where the Malvasia grapes are laid out by hand to appassire (dry out) on bamboo trays to dry for 1 whole year. The grapes are handled very delicately and laid out 1 bunch at a time. Throughout the year, grapes are carefully looked after and moved as necessary in order to get the right amount of air flowing around them.
Just imagine how much hard work actually goes into each sip of dessert wine you take!
Why does vin santo sound so religious?
vin = wine
santo = saint
So of course if you’re like us, you’re wondering – what the heck does dessert wine have to do with saints? Well it seems that this type of dessert wine was once used for religious serves hence the name! Simple as that.
But… even more interesting, legend has it that a local priest used to use to miraculously heal people from leprosy.
Drink up!
What makes these grapes so special?
You may get a hint of how beautiful this process is from the amazing colors in the photos we’ve taken, but actually seeing and smelling these grapes up close make you realize just how much meticulous care & attention is needed in such a traditional Italian dessert wine.
Being in the same room as these hand-placed bunches of Malvasia grapes, you can literally smell the fermenting and aging process. Try drinking a glass of vin santo after experiencing that!
