What is a Meditation Wine?

Many wines are well suited to sipping thoughtfully on one's own. Called vini da meditazione by the great Italian writer and connoisseur Luigi Veronelli, these wines are meant to be one-on-one affairs between the oenophile and his or her wine. The qualities that make a “meditation” wine are not strictly defined, but typically it has to be complex and very well made. It is usually suitable for aging and has gone at least some way towards maturity. The most important quality of a meditation wine is to be intellectually stimulating.

Luigi "Gino" Veronelli was an Italian wine and food journalist, philosopher and activist who made a profound impact on his country's restaurateurs and winemakers, inspiring them to embrace tradition and grow local grape varieties showcasing unique Italian flavors.

Veronelli personally designed a Meditation Wine Glass to enhance the experience of savoring wine slowly and mindfully. As he said, the proper glass “demands the warm caress of the hand.” His glass is crafted in Tuscany: Colle di Val d’Elsa; made from the finest crystal, this glass is a work of art. For vino da meditazione – a wine for solitary contemplation – the tall, aristocratic glass enhances every sip, creating a deep, multi-sensory experience.