Tenute Guicciardini Strozzi Vernaccia Riserva 2013

With some artistic liberty, Michelangelo described Vernaccia di San Gimignano as the wine that “bacia, lecca, morde, pica e punge” (kisses, licks, bites, heats and stings). There may have been an element of truth in it back then but the wine is a little different today. As Victoria Moore writes in the Telegraph, “Italian whites like this aren’t just super-refreshing, they also have a touch of astringency that makes them great food wines.” Grown for centuries in and around San Gimignano, this particular strain of Vernaccia is perfectly adapted to the local climate and fossil-rich soils. This Riserva from the noble Strozzi family is one of the finest. Try it with a creamy pork and sage casserole, other white meat dishes or a rich fish pie.