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A Region It’s easy to get confused when people say “Chianti.” Is it a region, a wine, a place, or many places? The answer is: Yes. Chianti is all of the above. It’s the region in Italy where Chianti wine is made, and it consists of several towns, some of which have “Chianti” in their name. The Chianti region is not officially defined, but is basically the hilly area between Florence and Siena. Historical Chianti refers to the relatively small territory of Radda, Gaiole, and Castellina, which allied as the Lega del Chianti in 1394 to produce and promote the local wine. The Lega’s symbol was a black rooster. Wines labeled Chianti Classico are produced in this original Chianti zone and are labeled with the black rooster as a sign of distinction. In 1716, Cosimo III de’Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, issued an edict naming the Lega’s three villages, as well as the village of Greve and the hillside north of Greve near Spedaluzza as the only officially recognized producers of Chianti. The official delineation existed until the 1930s when the Italian government expanded the zone. A Wine The broader Chianti region now consists of seven zones, each making its own version of the wine. All Chianti wines start with the Sangiovese grape with small amounts of Canaiolo, Cabernet Sauvignon, and/or white Trebbiano, Malvasia, and Colorina grapes added in different proportions. So Chianti is not one wine recipe, but many. Some are meant to be drunk young, some are better aged. Some are robust and others are more versatile dinner wines. Many people still associate Chianti with straw-covered round bottles of cheap wine. Most Chianti today is very good quality and sold in standard wine bottles. The ruby colored wine is fruity, dry, slightly tannic, with medium-high acidity. It can contain notes of cherry, cinnamon, leather, plum, raspberry, rose, and tobacco. Italians pair Chianti with most foods, but it goes especially well with mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, pasta, and game dishes. It’s best served at between 16°C and 18°C (61-64° Fahrenheit). Vineyards in the region offer tours and wine tastings. The official Chianti wine consortium has an informative website with lists of available tours and wine tastings. Check to see which require appointments and which accommodate walk-in tours. You may want to limit your itinerary to two wineries per day, as they tend to be held at a leisurely pace. If you prefer someone to organize the visits, many operators offer daily wine tasting tours in Chianti. For the most demanding guests, Italian View offers wine tasting sessions; whilst staying at a private Tuscan Villa. You can also taste and purchase wines at an enoteca. One of the regions largest is Greve’s le Cantine di Greve in Chianti. Here you can taste more than 140 wines, including expensive vintages, for a fraction of their cost. Also on tap are olive oils and grappa. Thankfully, they sell nibbling food to accompany your wine explorations. Many Towns In addition to vineyards, the Chianti area consists of several picturesque and historic medieval towns and hamlets. The largest, considered Chianti’s capital, is Greve. It is famous for its unusual triangular-shaped Piazza Matteoti, at the center of which stands a statue of Giovanni Verrazano, who discovered the New York harbor. The Church of Santa Croce is worth a visit, as it houses several works of art by Bicci di Lorenzo. Greve’s plaza is surrounded by many wonderful shops and restaurants. Don’t miss Antica Macelleria Falorni, a butcher shop that supplies many Tuscan restaurants and where you can sample salumi at its best. A colorful farmer’s market takes over the plaza on Saturdays. To the south of Greve, towards Siena, is Catellina in Chianti, a town that dates back to the Etruscans. One of the three original members of the Lega del Chianti, it’s also the most medieval. Its main tower, La Rocca, was built in the 15th century and houses the Museo Archeologico del Chianti Sienese, where many Etruscan artifacts are displayed. A massive castle stands guard over the town and a medieval trail surrounding the town, Via delle Vote, offers great views. There are several enotecas in town where you can taste the local wines. On a hilltop east of Castellina, lies Radda in Chianti, a medieval town whose original fortress and ancient walls still stand guard. The charming town center offers shopping as well as several bars and restaurants. A short distance away is the hamlet of Castello di Volpaia. With a population of 44, this small tourist town offers great wines, olive oils, and vinegars. South of Greve lies Panzano in Chianti, a hilltop hamlet built in the 11th century. Main attractions include the Santa Maria a Panzano church and the Castle of Panzano. Colorful local butcher Dario Cecchini offers the ironically named McDario hamburger on his lunch menu.
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