San Ginesio DOC
Italian Pronunciation Guide
One of Marche's youngest DOCs, born to champion sparkling red wine from the hills of Macerata province.
San Ginesio DOC is a tiny 6-hectare appellation in southern Marche, established in July 2007 in Macerata province. It produces two wine types: a Sangiovese-based still red and a Vernaccia Nera-based sparkling red. The DOC was created specifically to support producers of sparkling red wine after Vernaccia di Serrapetrona was elevated to DOCG status in 2004.
- Established in July 2007, making it one of the youngest DOCs in Marche
- Located in the province of Macerata in southern Marche, covering just 6 hectares
- Encompasses nine municipalities including San Ginesio, Caldarola, and Loro Piceno
- Produces San Ginesio Rosso (still red) and San Ginesio Spumante (sparkling red)
- Rosso requires a minimum 50% Sangiovese plus 35% supporting red varieties
- Spumante requires a minimum 85% Vernaccia Nera
- One of few Italian DOCs with a designated sparkling red wine
Origin and Purpose
San Ginesio DOC was created in July 2007 specifically to fill a gap left when the neighboring Vernaccia di Serrapetrona was promoted to DOCG status in 2004. That promotion removed producers of sparkling red wine in this part of Macerata from a recognized framework, and San Ginesio DOC was established to give those producers a formal appellation under which to operate. At just 6 hectares, it is one of the smallest and youngest DOCs in the Marche region.
- Established July 2007 as a direct response to the 2004 Vernaccia di Serrapetrona DOCG promotion
- Covers nine municipalities in the province of Macerata
- One of the most recently created DOCs in Marche
- Terre di San Ginesio is the notable producer operating within the appellation
Location and Geography
San Ginesio DOC sits in the province of Macerata in southern Marche, a region in central Italy along the Adriatic coast. The town of San Ginesio itself sits at just above 600 meters elevation, though the vineyards are planted at lower elevations. The climate is Mediterranean. The appellation encompasses the municipalities of San Ginesio, Caldarola, Camporotondo di Fiastrone, Cessapalombo, Ripe San Ginesio, Gualdo, Colmurano, Sant'Angelo in Pontano, and Loro Piceno.
- Province of Macerata, southern Marche, central Italy
- Town elevation just above 600 meters; vineyards at lower elevations
- Mediterranean climate
- Nine municipalities fall within the appellation boundaries
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San Ginesio DOC produces two distinct wine types. The San Ginesio Rosso is a still red wine requiring a minimum of 50% Sangiovese, with the remaining 35% drawn from supporting red varieties including Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Ciliegiolo, and Merlot. The San Ginesio Spumante is a sparkling red wine built on at least 85% Vernaccia Nera, a grape historically associated with the sparkling red wine tradition of this part of Marche. The Spumante format makes San Ginesio one of the few Italian DOCs to designate a sparkling red wine.
- San Ginesio Rosso: minimum 50% Sangiovese, 35% supporting varieties
- Supporting varieties include Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Ciliegiolo, and Merlot
- San Ginesio Spumante: minimum 85% Vernaccia Nera
- One of few Italian DOCs with an official sparkling red wine designation
The Rosso offers Sangiovese-driven red fruit character with structural backbone from potential Cabernet blends. The Spumante, dominated by Vernaccia Nera, delivers a sparkling red style with dark berry fruit and a distinctive effervescence typical of this central Italian tradition.
- San Ginesio DOC established July 2007; one of Marche's youngest DOCs
- Created after Vernaccia di Serrapetrona was promoted to DOCG in 2004, leaving sparkling red producers without an appellation
- Two wine types: Rosso (minimum 50% Sangiovese) and Spumante (minimum 85% Vernaccia Nera)
- Located in province of Macerata, southern Marche; covers 9 municipalities and just 6 hectares
- One of few Italian DOCs to designate a sparkling red wine