We The Italians | Italian wine: Vernaccia di Serrapetrona. A 3 fermentation wine

Italian wine: Vernaccia di Serrapetrona. A 3 fermentation wine

Italian wine: Vernaccia di Serrapetrona. A 3 fermentation wine

  • WTI Magazine #60 May 15, 2015
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WTI Magazine #60    2015 May, 15
Author : Jennifer Gentile Martin for www.vinotravelsitaly.com      Translation by:

 

The Marche is a region in central Italy. Pronounced "lay mark-ay", the Le Marche region borders Emilia Romagna to the north, Umbria to the west and Abruzzo to the south and barely touches the regions of Tuscany and Lazio. The Marche has a long coastline is located on the eastern side of Italy along the Adriatic Sea, but inland you will find the Apennine mountain chain running through it. Best of both worlds, but also the region why there is so much variety within the country and each region themselves.


I recently wrote about Verdicchio, one of the most popular white grapes from this region. Today I wanted to share with you an interesting wine from this region made from Vernaccia. No, it's not the vernaccia white grape like the Vernaccia di San Gimignano from Tuscany. This is a wine that is made from Vernaccia Nera called Vernaccia di Serrapetrona that comes from the Macerata province located more inland. This is one of the 5 DOCG wines from the Marche wine region.


The most interesting aspect about this wine is that it goes through 3 fermentations. During harvest time about 60% of the grapes harvested are processed and 40% of the grapes are dried out, which is known as appassimento. Lastly after the grapes have been dried out for a few months until about January they are then crushed and fermented. Finally, the wines are blended together and the final fermentation takes place and undergoes a third fermentation in stainless tanks via the Charmat method.


Vernaccia di Serrapetrona is a red sparkling semi-sweet to sweet wine, but can also be a dry, secco style. At least 85% of this wine must be made with vernaccia nera. The flavor profile is reminiscent of ripe red fruits including cranberries and strawberries with some spice and tannin combined with good acidity.