DOCG area for red wines in the Italian region of Tuscany. This wine, which is one quality level higher than "normal" Chianti and has stricter regulations, comes from the classic zone defined back in 1716 by Grand Duke Cosimo III (1642-1723) of the Medici family, although it was much smaller at the time. In 1932, further areas and municipalities were added to complete the current area. The densely wooded area covers around 70,000 hectares, but only 7,000 hectares are used for viticulture.
Municipalities & Via Chiantigiana
The suburbs of Florence form the border to the north, the Chianti mountains to the east, the Pesa and Elsa rivers to the west and Siena to the south. The "Via Chiantigiana" wine route, which is around 70 kilometres long, connects the two cities of Florence and Siena. The area includes the municipalities of Castellina, Gaiole, Greve and Radda in their entirety, as well as the municipalities of Barberino Val d'Elsa, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Poggibonsi, San Casciano and Tavarnelle Val di Pesa in part. There is also a separate DOC area for the sweet wine Vin Santo del Chianti Classico.
The trademark of the Chianti Classico area and also of the "Consorzio del Marchio Storico Chianti Classico" is Gallo nero (black cockerel). This goes back to a legend about the creation of the borders (see Chianti).
Soil types
The best sites are the middle altitudes south of Greve, north of Radda and Castellina and the slopes stretching from Gaiole southwards to Castelnuovo in the direction of the Arbia Valley. In contrast to the normal Chianti area, there are numerous hilly areas between 250 and 600 metres above sea level with dry and warm soils. The typical Chianti Classico soil types are Galestro (loose limestone marl) and Alberese (weathered sandstone), which do not become too moist even during heavy rainfall. Galestro also gave its name to an IGT white wine.
Distinction from the Chianti region
The two wines Chianti and Chianti Classico were often confused due to the similarity of their names, which is why there was a need to differentiate them from their "younger brother" Chianti. The Consorzio therefore issued a number of standards to emphasise the...
