Chianti is one of the most famous and oldest Italian wines, produced in the Chianti region of central Tuscany. In 2016, Italy celebrated the 300th anniversary of Chianti. It was the first wine in the world whose production area was defined by law. In the 19th century, Chianti gained worldwide fame, but in the 20th century it seriously damaged its reputation—an upheaval that ultimately led to the emergence of Super Tuscan wines. In recent decades, however, thanks to the efforts of Tuscan winemakers, Chianti has been rehabilitated and is once again returning to the glasses of wine lovers. That said, the turmoil of the 20th century greatly expanded both the range and the quality of wines grouped under the general name “Chianti.” Today, it is important to understand the difference between, say, Chianti Classico, Chianti Riserva, and Chianti Gran Selezione. Even the squat, straw-wrapped bottle known as the fiasco, so strongly associated with Chianti, is no longer an essential attribute of the wine. More and more producers are choosing standard bottles instead. The main grape variety used in Chianti is Sangiovese, the principal native grape of central Italy, especially Tuscany. It is also used to produce such famous wines as Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano—and, of course, Chianti itself.
Continue reading Chianti: Three centuries of Italian classic.
