Chianti. One of the most classic italian traditional wines.
Here is a quick guide on this gem of Italy.

Chianti
this Worldwide known brand is actually a a blend of different grapes types ,
more exactly 70% Sangiovese, 15% Canaiolo and 15% Malvasia bianca.
Starting in 1716 , it described the area near the villages of Gaiole,
Castellina and Radda;
the so-called Lega del Chianti and later Provincia del Chianti (Chianti
province).
In 1932 the Chianti area was completely re-drawn and divided in seven
sub-areas:
Chianti Classico, Colli Aretini, Colli Fiorentini,Colline Pisane, Colli
Senesi, Montalbano and Rufina.
Most of the villages that in 1932 were suddenly included in the new
Chianti Classico area added in Chianti to their name-such as Greve in
Chianti which amended its name in 1972.
Wines labelled "Chianti Classico" come from the biggest sub-area of
Chianti, that includes the original Chianti heartland.
Only Chianti from this sub-zone may boast the Black Rooster Seal (known
in Italian as a Gallo Nero) on the neck of the bottle, which indicates that
the producer of the wine is a member of the Chianti Classico Consortium,
the local association of producers.
Other variants, with the exception of Rufina from the north-east side of
Florence
and Montalbano in the south of Pistoia, originate in the respective
named provinces:
Siena for the Colli Senesi, Florence for the Colli Fiorentini, Arezzo
for the Colli Aretini and
Pisa for the Colline Pisane. In 1996 part of the Colli Fiorentini
sub-area was renamed Montespertoli.
During the 1970s producers started to reduce the quantity of white
grapes in Chianti.
In 1995 it became legal to produce a Chianti with 100% Sangiovese.
For a wine to retain the name of Chianti, it must be produced with at
least 80% Sangiovese grapes. Aged Chianti (38 months instead of 47), may be labelled as Riserva.
Chianti that meets more stringent requirements (lower yield, higher
alcohol content and dry extract) may be labelled as Chianti Superiore, although Chianti
from the "Classico" sub-area is not
allowed in any event to be labelled as "Superiore".
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