Vinsanto

Hello Everyone!

Last time we talked about the real meaning of the word "biscotto" and we saw what is a "cantuccio" and how it is recommended to eat it with the "vin santo". Some of you, maybe, are wondering what is this "vin santo" that literally translated means "holy wine". Oh well I am here to tell you more about it and more about the many legends that are related with its name.

One legend says that the name comes from the early age of the Christianity and it was suggesting that the wine was good enough to be used to celebrate the mass.

Moving through history we arrive in 1348. At the time the plague was spreading around Siena in Tuscany and seems that, the sicks who were drinking that wine used to shout "vinsanto" to express the sense of relief. The voice started to spread and suddenly people believed that the wine had miraculous properties and so got the adjective "santo" (holy).






If now you feel like make a  92 years jump, we will reach another moment in the Italian history(ok to be precise there was no Italy at that time...) that , supposedly, originated the name of the "vin santo". In 1439 Pope Eugenio IV held a council to discuss the possibility to reunite the Western church with the Eastern church. There were about 700 representatives from Greece and among them the cardinal "Bessarione", bishop of nicea. While tasting the sweet Tuscan wine he exclaimed:"this is from Xantos!"(a Greek island that produces wine) and Xantos was then translated from the people in "santus", the Latin way of saying "holy".




Another legend says that the name comes from the period in which the wine is produced, mostly close to the most important religious festivity. Some people squeeze the grape around the end of October, Christmas or Easter.

Seems like the legend that is most likely the right one is the one that says that the wine takes its name, because its similarity, from the wine used during the mass.

Well now you know a lot about this amazing wine! The last thing you all should do is go to Tuscany and enjoy a glass of "vin santo" with "cantucci" hopefully after a full Tuscan or Umbrian meal!!!