What is Chianti Classico?
For me, Chianti Classico is more than just a glass of red wine from Tuscany. It represents living tradition, rich history, diverse culture, and a mindful way of life. And, of course, amazing food, especially the 'Cucina povera' – the 'poor people's kitchen'.
But usually, when people talk about Chianti Classico, they mean the red wine from the heart of Tuscany, which is one of Italy's most important wine regions. Lots of folks know Chianti Classico because of its classic straw-covered bottle, called 'Fiasco' in Italian. You probably saw these bottles used as candle holders in pizzerias in Germany and Austria back in the 80s and 90s! That's actually one reason why this red wine, mostly made from Sangiovese grapes, became so well-known.
But Chianti Classico isn't just about the wine; it's also the name for this specific wine region, or 'appellation.' The Chianti Classico wine area has a super long and rich history. Get this: Chianti Classico is actually the oldest wine appellation in the world! Back in 1716, Cosimo III, who was a Medici, laid out the borders for the region that's now known as the Chianti Classico appellation.
Chianti and Chianti Classico
People often swap 'Chianti' and 'Chianti Classico,' get them mixed up, and sadly, use them wrong even more often. This definitely causes a lot of confusion!
So, here's a quick rundown. Fair warning: it's about to get a little complicated!
Chianti is the area, the land, the region between Florence to the north and Siena to the south. So, it's a super specific geographical spot.
Chianti Classico is the wine that's grown and made in that specific area, following certain production rules. Basically, Chianti Classico only comes from here!
But Chianti is also another red wine from Tuscany that actually comes from outside this specific geographical area. For Chianti DOCG, not only is its origin totally different, but the production rules are also completely different from Chianti Classico. There are actually several wine regions within Tuscany where Chianti DOCG is made.
Still not quite getting it? Even after reading it a few times? No worries, lots of people feel that way! But there's a super easy solution, because you can spot Chianti Classico wine pretty simply. Every single bottle of Chianti Classico *has* to have the Black Rooster, or 'Gallo Nero' in Italian, on it. You'll find it either on the front of the bottle near the neck or on the back label. Because if it has the Black Rooster, then it's Chianti Classico inside. Pretty simple, right?
The Legend of the Black Rooster
The Black Rooster is the historic symbol for Chianti Classico. Way back in 1924, the Consorzio Chianti Classico, which is like the main association for all the winemakers in the region, decided to put the Gallo Nero on the wine bottles from this area. Nowadays, you might even call the founding fathers of the Consorzio Chianti Classico 'marketing or brand managers'!
But how did this animal symbol even come about? Well, there's a legend, and it goes like this: There was a really long-standing fight over the border between Florence and Siena, and they decided two riders would settle it. The deal was, both riders – one from Florence, one from Siena – would set off at dawn right after their rooster crowed. Wherever they met on the road, that would be the new border between the two cities. The Florentines' black rooster was super hungry, so it started crowing way earlier, letting their rider get a head start. Meanwhile, the Sienese's white, well-fed rooster was in no rush and crowed much later! This meant Florence won the whole thing, because legend says the two riders met south of Castellina in Chianti, close to what's now the village of Fonterutoli.
What is Chianti Classico made from?
Sangiovese is the top red wine grape in Italy, and it's super important in Tuscany too. That's because tons of appellations in Tuscany use the Sangiovese red grape as their main ingredient: Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Morellino di Scansano, Chianti Colli Fiorentini, Chianti Colli Senesi, Chianti Rufina, Chianti Colli Aretini, Chianti Colli Pisane, Chianta Montalbano, Chianti Montespertoli, and even more regions. AND of course, Chianti Classico!
Chianti Classico can be made with 100 percent Sangiovese, but you're allowed to add up to 20 percent of other approved grape varieties. These can be local grapes like Canaiolo, Colorino, Pugnitello, Malvasia Nera, and others, or international ones like Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Syrah, and so on. Depending on the 'Cuvée' (that's just the fancy word for the blend of grapes), you get different wine styles and personalities for Chianti Classico. So, the grapes they use really make a big difference to how the wine tastes!
Nowadays, adding white wine grapes is a no-go. But that wasn't always the rule! Back in the day, it was actually a must to blend grapes like Malvasia Bianca or Trebbiano into the red wine. Bettino Ricasoli, who was part of the famous Ricasoli noble family and even a former Prime Minister of Italy, is now seen as the 'inventor of the Chianti formula.' Way back in 1872, he set out how 'Chianti' (which didn't have 'Classico' in its name yet) should be made: Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Malvasia, and Trebbiano were the grapes you *had* to use. Over the years, that 'recipe' has changed quite a lot.
What else should you know about Chianti Classico?
Chianti Classico is actually in the top tier according to Italian wine law – it's part of the DOCG wines. DOCG is short for 'Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita,' which basically means 'controlled and guaranteed designation of origin' in English. This is super important because it makes sure that Chianti Classico really *only* comes from its specific region and is made following strict production rules.
By the way, the other groups under Italian wine law are called DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata), IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica), and Vini Generici (which used to be known as Vino da Tavola). Just so you know, the DOCG wines are considered the absolute highest quality!
The Quality Pyramid in Chianti Classico
Within the Chianti Classico appellation, there are three quality levels:
Chianti Classico (Annata) DOCG
Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG
Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG
Roughly speaking, these three categories are different because of their varying production rules.
Chianti Classico DOCG
The word 'Annata' isn't an official name; the lowest level of the quality pyramid is officially just called 'Chianti Classico'. But in Italian, and many winemakers love to use it, they often call the basic wine 'Annata', which actually means 'vintage'. However, in this case, it refers to the 'basic Chianti Classico'.
Chianti Classico needs to be made with at least 80% Sangiovese, but it can totally be 100%. It also needs a minimum alcohol content of 12.0%, and the basic Chianti Classico has to age in the cellar for at least a year before it's ready to hit the market.
Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG
The Chianti Classico Riserva isn't super different from the regular Chianti Classico in terms of how it's made. It follows the same rules for grape blend and ratios as the Chianti Classico. It needs a minimum alcohol content of 12.5%, but it has to age way longer in the cellar – at least 24 months. And out of that, the wine must have spent at least three months aging in the bottle before it can be sold.
Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG
This category has only existed in Chianti Classico since 2013. These wines are the absolute best, sitting at the top of the quality pyramid in the region. They often use the finest grapes from a winery or from a super special single vineyard. But, the production rules actually changed with the 2020 vintage. Before 2020, you could use 80 to 100 percent Sangiovese, and if it was less than 100 percent, you were allowed to add either local or international grape varieties from a specific list.
Starting with the 2020 vintage, and the new UGA (Unità Geografiche
Aggiuntive) classification for where the grapes come from, the minimum Sangiovese content jumped to 90%. Blending with international grape varieties is now a no-go. Only grapes native to Tuscany, like Canaiolo, Colorino, Pugnitello, Malvasia Nera, Mammolo, and Sanforte, are allowed in the mix. Also, the grapes must, without exception, come from the winery's own vineyards – no buying them in! The wine needs a minimum alcohol content of 13.0% and has to age for at least 30 months, with at least 3 months of that happening in the bottle.
So, what does Chianti Classico taste like?
Of course, it's super tough to give a general answer. The taste really depends on tons of different things: the soil, climate, how the vineyard faces, the weather during the growing season, the winery's philosophy and approach, their cellar setup, whether they farm organically or conventionally, and a whole lot more.
But generally, when you smell Chianti Classico, you'll usually pick up fruity and spicy aromas that might remind you of cherries, dark fruits and berries, juniper, pepper, and even violets. When you take a sip, Chianti Classico often comes with bold tannins and a lively acidity. Put it all together, and you usually get fruity, really drinkable wines that are awesome with a good meal, especially cheese and meat dishes. But seriously, the variety and options are huge!
By the way: Chianti Classico is always a 'dry red wine' according to European wine laws.
When's the best time to drink Chianti Classico?
When someone asks me that, I always love to tell a story from one of my teachers back when I was learning about wine: 'The best way is to buy 12 to 18 bottles of a wine and open one every single year. If you realize the wine tasted better last year than it does right now, then you know you should've just drunk all of it last year!' It's a bit of a joke, sure, but there's definitely some truth in there.
But generally speaking, thanks to all the amazing effort and hard work from winemakers with their grape planting, vineyard care, and cellar techniques, Chianti Classico has really made a huge leap in overall quality over the past few decades.
It used to be that Annata, or the basic Chianti Classico, should be drunk pretty quickly, like within seven years of harvest at most. But that's totally changed now! Of course, things like the vintage (meaning the conditions during the growing season), how it's aged, and even the 'skillful touch of the cellar master' all play a pretty big role in the wine's quality. Also, I personally think the more Sangiovese in the wine, the longer it can be stored.
I often tell people that Chianti Classico is still really great to drink even after 10 years. But Chianti Classico Riserva and Chianti Classico Gran Selezione? They can totally hang out for 20 to 30 years – as long as they're stored properly, of course.
Why should you try Chianti Classico?
Super simple: because I totally recommend this wine to you! Chianti Classico offers incredible variety, and the possibilities for discovering new favorites are practically endless.
I personally always suggest kicking things off with a Chianti Classico DOCG. You can often find wines in this category that offer really great value for money, and you'll frequently get 'a lot of wine' for what you pay.
People often ask me about 'good vintages'. And again, my advice is: just try them out! There haven't really been any 'bad' vintages in Chianti Classico over the last decade. Plus, everyone has their own favorite taste. The journey is the destination, right?
I'm often quoted saying: 'Chianti Classico is a food companion, not a fireplace wine.' This just means I personally prefer a nice glass of Chianti Classico with my meal. And that applies to all three quality levels, simply paired with the food. Luckily, for those cozy fireplace moments, we have the 'SuperTuscans'!
Also, I don't recommend drinking Chianti Classico at room temperature, even though people often say that about red wine. Chianti Classico really shines between 16° C and 18° C. If you don't have a fancy wine fridge (most of us don't!), just pop the bottle in your regular fridge for an hour. Then your Sangiovese wine will be at its absolute best drinking temperature.
It's similar with wine glasses: people often reach for 'really big' wine glasses for reds. But Chianti Classico, and Sangiovese wines in general, are a little different. Start with a white wine glass, then try one that's a size bigger. Keep going until you find what works best for your personal taste.
Viva il Chianti Classico!