Vernaccia di Serrapetrona is an appellation in the Marche, in the province of Macerata. It was born as a DOC in 1971 and became a DOCG in 2004. It has about 9 hectares, with an output of 580 hectolitres. The area covers the commune of Serrapetrona and parts of the neighbouring communes of Belforte del Chienti and San Severino Marche.
A red sparkling wine
It is a red sparkling wine, dry or sweet, from at least 85% Vernaccia Nera. It ages about 9 months and is released from 30 June of the year after the harvest; the minimum alcohol is 11.5%. It has a colour between garnet and ruby, a fine and persistent perlage, an aromatic and vinous nose and a slightly bitter finish. The sweet version goes with desserts, dry biscuits and rustic sweet breads; the dry one with spicy and semi-hard cheeses, cured meats, boiled meats with mostarda and mushroom dishes. The same grape in the same area also gives the Serrapetrona DOC, a still red.
A long history
In 1132 the coat of arms of Serrapetrona already showed a vine with bunches of grapes. In 1562 vine growing around Camerino was highly developed, above all in Borgiano and Castel San Venanzo, now hamlets of Serrapetrona. In 1876 the Bollettino Ampelografico of the Ministry of Agriculture named Vernaccia the first of the coloured grapes of the area.
