# Dolce Sinfonia Vin Santo di Montepulciano (2019)

- **Producer:** Bindella
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** dessert
- **Grapes:** Trebbiano, Malvasia
- **Region:** Toscana, Italy
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 14.5%
- **Average price:** €39
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 12–14 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** peach, apricot, cedar, dried apricot, dried fig, honey, hazelnut

## About this wine

Tenuta Vallocaia was acquired in 1983 by Swiss wine merchant and art enthusiast Rudi Bindella. Located southeast of the historic hilltop town of Montepulciano in Tuscany, the estate encompasses prime vineyard sites across Vallocaia and Camparone. Named Dolce Sinfonia in tribute to famous Italian opera composer Giuseppe Verdi, this limited-production Vin Santo di Montepulciano DOC represents a classic Tuscan dessert wine tradition crafted exclusively during exceptional vintages.

## Interesting facts

- Named 'Dolce Sinfonia' as a direct homage to legendary Italian opera composer Giuseppe Verdi.
- Annual production is strictly limited to around 2,500 half-bottles, crafted only in optimal vintages.
- Aged in traditional small 50L and 100L French oak barrels called caratelli for at least three years.

## Food pairing

The rich sweetness and high concentration of Vin Santo are balanced by vibrant natural acidity. High-fat savory contrast like blue cheese or liver pâté creates an exquisite match, while dry almond pastries absorb sweetness without overwhelming the palate.

## Wine making process

Hand-selected Trebbiano and Malvasia grapes undergo appassimento, drying naturally in the estate's ventilated vinsantaia until December following the harvest. The concentrated must is then racked into small 50-liter and 100-liter French oak caratelli barrels, where it ferments and ages for a minimum of three years before spending an additional year refining in bottle prior to release.