Chianti Classico
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Chianti Classico is a wine produced in a Chianti's sub-area. There are actually 8 sub-areas in Chianti: Classico, Colli Aretini, Colli Fiorentini, Colli Senesi, Colline Pisane, Montalbano, Montespertoli and Rùfina. You may recognize these wines very easily by the black rooster logo on the neck of the bottles.
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[edit] History
The first definition of a wine-area called Chianti was made in 1716 by Cosimo III, Grand Duke of Tuscany. It described the area nearby the villages of Gaiole in Chianti, Castellina in Chianti and Radda in Chianti; the so-called Lega del Chianti and later Provincia del Chianti (Chianti province). In 1932 the Chianti area was completely re-drawn. The new Chianti was a very big area divided in seven sub-areas: Classico, Colli Aretini, Colli Fiorentini, Colline Pisane, Colli Senesi, Montalbano and Rùfina. The old Chianti area was then just a little part of the Classico area, being the original area described in 1716 about 40% of the extension of the Classico sub-area and about 10% of all Chianti. Most of the villages that in 1932 were suddenly included in the new Chianti Classico area added immediately or later in Chianti to their name (the latest was the village of Greve changing its name in Greve in Chianti in 1972).
In 1967 Chianti was transformed into a DOC and the Classico sub-area was confirmed[1]. In 1984 Chianti was transformed into a DOCG and the Classico sub-area was again confirmed.[2]. From 1996 the Classico sub-area has a separate disciplinare (rules of production), similar to the rest of Chiantis but generally a bit stricter in quality parameters[3].
[edit] The black rooster
A black rooster was the emblem of the Lega del Chianti during XVII century. From 1967 until 2005 it has was the emblem of an association of some of the producers of the Classico sub-area sharing advertising costs[4]; therefore only some bottles of Chianti Classico had that symbol on the neck, regardless of quality. Since 2005 the black rooster is the emblem of the Chianti Classico producers association[5]; from that year all Chianti Classico wines have that symbol on the neck of the bottle indicating that the wine is produced in the Classico area and according to the Chianti Classico rules.
[edit] Grapes
Till mid of 19th century Chianti was based solely on Sangiovese grapes. During the second half of 19th century Baron Bettino Ricasoli who was an important Chianti producer and, in the same time, minister in Tuscany and then Prime Minister in the Kingdom of Italy, imposed his ideas: from that moment on Chianti should have been produced with 70% Sangiovese, 15% Canaiolo and 15% Malvasia bianca (Malvasia bianca is an aromatical white grape). During the 1970s, producers started to reduce the quantity of white grapes in Chianti and eventually from 1995 it is allowed to produce a Chianti with 100% sangiovese, or at least without white grapes.
[edit] Production
| Main differences between Chianti, Chianti Classico and Chianti Superiore[6] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Chianti | Chianti Classico | Chianti Superiore | |
| Max. grape yeld (t/Ha) | 9,0 | 7,5 | 7,5 |
| Max. grape yeld (Kg/Vine stock) | 4,0 | 3,0 | 2,2 |
| Min. vine stocks per Ha | 3'000 | 3'350 | 4'000 |
| Min. dry extract (g/l) | 19,0 | 21,0 | 23,0 |
In the disciplinare (rule of production) is never mentioned nor the time wine should lay in barrels nor how grape should be selected.
[edit] Notes
- ^ D.M. 9.08.1967
- ^ D.M. 2.07.1984
- ^ Classico's Chiantis are considered the second highest quality Chiantis after the Chianti Superiore
- ^ Consorzio del Marchio Storico
- ^ Consorzio del vino Chianti Classico
- ^ Source: Unione Italiana Vini
