Chianti and Chianti Classico

Chianti is a protected designation of origin for red wine from Tuscany, made primarily from the sangiovese grape. The area has a long history: in 1716, Grand Duke Cosimo III de’ Medici already fixed boundaries and rules for the wine in an official decree. According to the Consorzio Vino Chianti, that counts as the first wine regulation in the world.

In 1967 Chianti received DOC status, followed in 1984 by DOCG, the highest Italian class of origin. Anyone who reads ‘Chianti’ on a label today can come across two different DOCGs: Chianti and Chianti Classico. Each has its own area, its own consortium and its own production rules.

The difference lies in area and rules. Chianti Classico comes from the original core area between Florence and Siena, some 70,000 hectares. Radda, Gaiole, Castellina and Greve in Chianti fall entirely within it, as do parts of San Casciano in Val di Pesa, Barberino Tavarnelle, Poggibonsi and Castelnuovo Berardenga. Since 5 August 1996 Chianti Classico has been an independent DOCG with its own production regulations.

Chianti DOCG covers a much larger area in six Tuscan provinces: Florence, Siena, Arezzo, Pisa, Pistoia and Prato. Within it lie subzones such as Rufina, Colli Fiorentini, Colli Senesi, Colli Aretini, Colline Pisane, Montalbano and Montespertoli, which may put their name on the label.

The black rooster, the Gallo Nero, is the hallmark of Chianti Classico. The consortium chose the symbol on 14 May 1924, when 33 producers founded the consortium in Radda. The rooster refers to the medieval military Lega del Chianti.

In 2005 the black rooster became the symbol of the whole Chianti Classico designation, not just of the members of the consortium. Since 2013 it has been mandatory on every bottle, on the neck or on the back label. The consortium sums it up briefly: without the black rooster it is not Chianti Classico. A bottle of ordinary Chianti DOCG therefore does not carry the rooster.

In both wines sangiovese is the main grape, but the minimum percentages differ. For Chianti Classico, at least 80 percent sangiovese applies and at most 20 percent of other permitted red grapes. These can be native varieties such as canaiolo nero, colorino, ciliegiolo, malvasia nera and mammolo, or international varieties such as merlot, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and syrah. Since 2006, white grapes are no longer permitted in Chianti Classico.

For Chianti DOCG the minimum is 60 percent sangiovese. Up to 10 percent white grapes are still allowed, and cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon together at most 15 percent (in the Colli Senesi subzone 10 percent).

These are higher tiers with stricter ageing rules. For Chianti Classico, a regular Annata is aged for at least 12 months, with at least 12 percent alcohol. A Chianti Classico Riserva is aged for at least 24 months, 3 of them in bottle, with at least 12.5 percent alcohol.

The Gran Selezione is the top: at least 30 months of ageing, of which 3 in bottle, and at least 13 percent alcohol. The wine comes from a single vineyard or from a selection of the best grapes from the wine house's own land. It contains at least 90 percent sangiovese, supplemented only with native grapes. The consortium has also delimited eleven sub-areas, such as Panzano, Lamole and Radda, which are initially intended only for Gran Selezione. Ordinary Chianti also has a Riserva, with at least 24 months of ageing, and a Superiore.

In the shop on the Brink in Bathmen there are bottles from both denominations. Of Chianti DOCG there is the Castello di Gabbiano Chianti. Of Chianti Classico, with the black rooster, you will find among others Gabbiano Chianti Classico and Gabbiano Chianti Classico Riserva, Peppoli Chianti Classico, Villa Antinori Chianti Classico and from Tenuta di Arceno both the Chianti Classico and the Chianti Classico Riserva.

This way you can compare Chianti and Chianti Classico, and Annata and Riserva, side by side. Would you like to know which bottle suits your occasion? Drop by at Brink 2 in Bathmen or feel free to call us on 0570 541 278.

The shop is at Brink 2 in Bathmen. Open Tuesday to Friday from 09.00 to 18.00 and Saturday from 09.00 to 17.00. For advice, call 0570 541 278 or email info@bockje.nl.