What do classico and superiore mean on an Italian wine?

Classico indicates the oldest, historically delimited part of a wine region, within the boundaries of a larger appellation.

When appellations were extended in the twentieth century, the communes in the historic core wanted to remain recognisable. For Chianti this was done with a decree from 1932, after which Chianti Classico got its own zone.

The regulations of Chianti Classico describe a production area of 71,800 hectares, of which 30,400 hectares lie in the province of Florence and 41,400 hectares in the province of Siena.

Superiore means that the wine meets stricter requirements than the ordinary version of the same appellation.

Which requirements these are is set out per designation in the production rules. Often it concerns a higher minimum alcohol content, a lower yield per hectare or a longer ageing before the wine may go on the market.

The Consorzio Tutela Vini Valpolicella reports a maturation of at least one year for Valpolicella Superiore. Anyone who wants to know the precise requirements should therefore always look in the regulations for that one designation.

The requirements are laid down in the production regulations of each individual designation, within the framework of European and Italian wine law.

Regulation (EU) 1308/2013 governs the protection of designations of origin, geographical indications and traditional terms. Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/33 elaborates this for labelling and presentation.

In Italy, implementation runs through the Testo unico del vino, law 238 of 12 December 2016, and through the ministry of agriculture. The consorzi supervise compliance for each designation.

The regulation of Chianti Classico requires a Riserva to have at least 12.50 percent alcohol and 24 months of ageing, of which three months in bottle.

For Gran Selezione the requirements are higher: at least 13.00 percent alcohol and 30 months of maturation, likewise with at least three months in bottle.

The words Riserva and Gran Selezione therefore stand for a longer maturation within the same appellation, just as superiore elsewhere in Italy stands for a stricter requirement.

The Chianti Classico regulations prescribe that the word classico comes directly after the name Chianti.

On other labels you see the same structure: first the name of the appellation, then the addition. Soave Classico, Valpolicella Classico and Bardolino Classico follow that rule.

Staat er ook een aanvulling als superiore of riserva bij, dan hoort die bij dezelfde benaming en niet bij een ander gebied. Wij verkopen geen alcohol aan wie jonger is dan achttien jaar. NIX18.