vin santo

noun

vin san·​to ˈvin-ˈsän-(ˌ)tō 

ˈvēn-

variants or Vin Santo

: an amber-colored wine of variable sweetness that is produced in Tuscany from partially dried grapes

In Italy, grapes for vin santo hang from rafters in warm attics for months after the harvest, their juice gradually becoming more concentrated.

—Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator, 31 Jan. 1993

What I liked best, though, was a glass of Vin Santo, a sweet Tuscan wine made from aged Trebbiano grapes, served with crunchy almond biscotti for dunking.

—Caroline Bates, Gourmet, May 1988

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Italian vinsanto, probably shortened from vino santo literally, "holy wine" or vino di santo "saint's wine"

First Known Use

1798, in the meaning defined above

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