Vermentino is a Mediterranean white grape variety with an ancient history, the origins of which are still the subject of study: the most widely accepted theories link it to the western Mediterranean basin, with its cultivation gradually spreading from Liguria towards Tuscany, Sardinia, Corsica and southern France. In Italy, it is one of the most characteristic varieties of the Tyrrhenian coast. The vine has medium-to-large leaves, generally pentagonal and five-lobed, sometimes seven-lobed, with a moderately blistered upper surface and varying degrees of tomentousness on the underside. The bunch is medium to large, winged, conical or cylindrical in shape and moderately compact; the berry, ranging from spheroidal to ellipsoidal, has a greenish-yellow skin that turns golden as it ripens, sometimes marked by rust-coloured spots. The grape variety is widespread mainly in Liguria, coastal Tuscany and Sardinia, where it is particularly prominent in Gallura, as well as in Corsica and the south of France. The wines produced are straw-yellow in colour, often with greenish highlights, and are fragrant with white flowers, citrus fruits, Mediterranean herbs and pale-fleshed fruit, frequently with hints of the sea and salt. On the palate, they combine freshness, savouriness, structure and elegance. The finest examples can age well for several years, developing greater complexity and smoothness.