The most common varieties found in the area are pecorino cheeses – fresh and seasoned, including: Pecorino Fresco, Pecorino Semistagionato, and Pecorino Stagionato.Īmong the cured meats traditionally served are prosciutto, salame, finocchiona, sopressata, and buristo.īread is often served alongside the cured meats and cheeses. Typically, the cheese served is produced from goat or cow milk and the flavor varies depending upon its ripeness, the season in which it was produced, and any incorporated local herbs for added flavor and aroma.

A common appetizer consists of a variety of locally produced cheeses and cured meats.

Local ingredients typically make their first appearance right from the start of the meal in San Gimignano. Roughly 30 years later, it received the DOCG, or Denomination of Guaranteed Controlled Origin, status. San Gimignano is a must for any wine lover’s itinerary as it is home to the first national vino to be recognized with the DOC, or Denomination of Controlled Origin, label in 1966. It was said to be popular among historical figures including Boccaccio and Dante - even finding its way into the latter's Divine Comedy. Beginning in medieval times, the city gained a reputation for producing some of the best wine in Italy - most notably those featuring the Vernaccia grape found in the area's vineyards. Located in the province of Siena in Central Italy, San Gimignano sits amidst the scenic Tuscan wine country. While it is quite pricey, its light flavor and attractive aroma can be found in many local recipes - giving each dish a golden tint. The locally grown variety has consequently received the IGP designation for its consistent high quality.

Some of the most superior saffron in all of Italy is cultivated in the surrounding countryside. While known for its skyline of medieval towers, the city is also renowned for an important ingredient to local cuisine - Crocus savitas, also known as saffron. While many food items are common throughout the country such as pasta, bread, and olive oil - each region, province, and city adds its own touch to make it unique for their local cuisine, and San Gimignano is no different. By utilizing their readily available resources, recipes are created inexpensively.įrom fresh produce and herbs to meat and breads, the abundance of local ingredients grown in and around the town provides for authentic Italian recipes. The resulting dishes are simple, yet hearty and quite common in the Tuscany region. Menus throughout the city reflect availability depending upon the season and local production. The ingredients utilized are locally grown and raised on the vast hillsides the area is known for. Keeping with the traditions of Tuscan cuisine, the food found in San Gimignano is fresh and flavorful.

Gondola cinta di venice episode 1