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Chianti classico Docg Link to product report The Chianti is the Tuscan wine by antonomasia, a product which has made famous in the entire world the region where it is produced, and which still holds Italian oenology in the top places in the international markets.
The area of the Chianti Classico is situated between Florence and Siena, and is a highly agricultural area, an aspect which has rendered it unique. Manual and manmade activity here has truly bettered the natural beauty of the area. Due to its characteristic climate, its soil and the altitude, the land of the Chianti Classico is particularly adapted for the production of prized wines. And the boast of this region is exactly the Chianti Classico wine.
The specification “Classico” is reserved to the most ancient area of production, to which is attributed an autonomous regulation, by means of a disciplinary norm of the “Chianti Classico”. How it is consumed The Chianti Classico is perfectly served with main courses which are meat based, such as the porchetta allo spiedo, tripe, the bistecca alla fiorentino, the Colonnata lard, cold cuts and the finocchiona di cinta senese. It combines well with semi-mature pecorino Toscano cheese, with the crostini alla Toscana and the fagioli al fiasco. It is served in ballon calices at a temperature of 16 to 18°C. How it is conserved The regulations for a correct preservation of the Chianti Classico state that the wine must be conserved horizontally on wooden shelves, in a dark space, and at a constant temperature of 10 to 15°C. It is important that the humidity is around 70-75% to avoid that the cork gets dry. How it is produced The wine making process foresees that the fermentation of the must be in contact with the marc which in this phase releases part of the substances it contains, such as the tannic and anthocyanin ones. The grapes are pressed and in many cases they are picked from a bunch, and then sulphated with sulphurous anhydride. At this point, in special recipient called ferments, the fermentation and maceration phases begin, which usually has a duration of 15 days. The drawing of wine from the vat follows, to eliminate solid substances from the wine-must, and occasionally the so-called “governo” procedure (a long re-fermentation of the decanted wine with slightly withered grapes). The following phases are decanting and refining. The ‘Reserve' version has an obligatory refining period of 2 years (starting from the successive first of January of the vintage year), of which three months are at least spent in bottles. Product report
| Categories | The Chianti Classico Docg is a red table wine |
| Description | The Chianti Classico Docg is obtained from Sangiovese grapes at a minimum percentage of 75%, and an eventual addition of Canaiolo nero (maximum 10%), Trebbiano Toscano and/or Malvasia del Chianti (maximum 60%) and other grapes from the area (maximum 15%) |
| Characteristics | The Chianti Classico is vivid ruby red in colour tending to garnet red with aging; the smell is intense with a violet smell which becomes more pronounced and refined in the aging process. It is dry, harmonic, sapid, slightly tannic in taste, becoming soft and velvety with time, presenting other characteristics if the “governo” process has been applied. The minimum gradation of 12°C. |
| Production zone | The area of production extends for about 70.000 hectares and includes the two provinces of Siena and Florence, including the entire areas of Castellina in Chianti, Radda in Chianti, Gaiole in Chianti, Greve in Chianti and part of those in San Casciano in Val di Pesa, Barberino Val d'Elsa, Tavarnelle Val di Pesa, Castelnuovo Berardenga and a part of the district of Poggibonsi |
| Present on market | All year round |
| Normative references | The Docg Chianti Classico has been recognised on GU 18.09.1996 which has modified the DPR 02.07.1984 which initially had recognized the DOCG Chianti in the area of which the area of the Chianti Classico was included. |
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