Panizzi: Ageworthy Vernaccia and characterful Tuscan Pinot Nero 

Nestled among Tuscany’s vineyards and forests, the tiny medieval village of Larniano lies just a short distance from San Gimignano and its UNESCO World Heritage Site. The patchwork of tall towers and hilltop villages harks back to when the Medici dynasty ruled these lands as part of the medieval Republic of Florence.

Panizzi, the historic producer that calls Larniano home, is celebrating its rich heritage while maintaining a sharp focus on the future. In addition to showcasing the impressive ageability of Vernaccia di San Gimignano, Tuscany’s flagship white grape, Panizzi has also pioneered the growing of Pinot Noir on the slopes above Larniano.

Turning Vernaccia into a star

Ever since Giovanni Panizzi founded his eponymous winery in 1979, Vernaccia has sat at the heart of the estate. Today, 21 of its 55 hectares are dedicated to this historic local variety, which has spent centuries adapting to San Gimignano’s microclimate. Panizzi’s focus on highlighting the grape’s complexity and potential to evolve has continued under the stewardship of current owner Simone Niccolai.

That focus on future evolution extends to Panizzi’s care for its vineyards. The winery has gained organic certification and deploys numerous sustainable practices, the vines, for example, are tended exclusively by hand and fertilised with only natural products, including residual biomass from the harvest. The vineyards are tended as part of a wider 300ha property that includes olive groves, forests, a hunting reserve and the estate’s hospitality centre.

Award-winning expressions

Panizzi’s classic Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG 2021