THE WINEMAKING CHIANTI AREA TODAY

In August 1924, within the walls of the Fattoria Vignale – that at the time was the manor house belonging to a Notary Public, Mr. Baldassarre Pianigiani, known as “the Chianti Notary“ – the ‘Gallo Nero’ certificate of incorporation was drawn up. This is a consortium set up to protect the local Chianti Classico wine and the Relais Vignale is its historical centre.

The “capital” cities of the Chianti Classico Region are Florence and Siena and the ‘Gallo Nero’ area stretches over the two districts: 70,000 hectares that include the municipalities of Castellina in Chianti, Gaiole in Chianti, Greve in Chianti, Radda in Chianti and, in part, also Barberino Tavarnelle, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Poggibonsi and San Casciano in Val di Pesa.

Specifications

1. At present the “Chianti Classico” D.O.C.G. (controlled and guaranteed designation of origin) is only applicable to red wines obtained from grapes grown in the production area as explained above and, in the business context, originating from vineyards with the following ampelographic composition:

• 80% minimum and up to 100% Sangiovese

Furthermore, only up to a maximum of 20% red grapes from vineyards suitable for the terroir in the Tuscan Region can be used in its production.

The vineyard must have a minimum planting density of 4,400 plants per hectare (10,000 sq. m), the maximum production allowed per hectare is 7.5 tons and the average yield per plant cannot exceed 2 Kg.

The maximum grapes/wine yield cannot exceed 70%.

Vineyards can only be used for the production of “Chianti Classico” wine during the third year from planting. However, in the 3^rd year the maximum allowed production of grapes is reduced to 40% and thus from 7.5 to 3 ton/ha.

The index lists Three Chiantis:
1 . the geographical Chianti
2 . the historical Chianti
3 . the wine-making Chianti

1 . The geography of the Chianti region
Article will follow