Chianti wine: description and reviews

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Red dry and spicy wine "Chianti" is traditionally produced in the central region of Italy - Tuscany, which has long been famous for its picturesque vineyards, olive groves and majestic cypress trees. In the second half of the 20th century, the popular wine drink of this brand was awarded the highest category in the classification of Italian wines - DOCG.

A trip to history

The first mention of wine "Chianti" refers to the XIV century, when Italy was still inhabited by the Etruscans. This ancient civilization fully assimilated into the Roman Empire that ruled the region. Later, Italian farmers used this name for simple wine drinks, which were made according to their own recipes. For sale, such wine was poured into cheap bottles of thin glass and braided with straw so that the container would not break during transportation.

The original Chianti red wine recipe, which consisted of 70% Sangiovese grapes, was first created by the Italian state andpolitician - Bettino Ricasoli. He was engaged in winemaking in his family estate, which was located near the city of Siena. His plans included the creation of an aromatic and fizzy wine drink suitable for both everyday use and long-term storage. The result exceeded all expectations, and the recipe for the wine drink Bettino Ricasoli gained mass popularity among consumers not only in Italy, but throughout the world.

Black Rooster

In the first half of the 20th century, the popularity of Chianti wine reached its peak, which led to the release of a huge amount of counterfeit goods on the world market. As a result, Tuscan winemakers united in a coalition that was supposed to protect the quality characteristics of a well-known brand. The emblem of the newly created society was a black rooster, which is associated with a funny legend.

According to local residents, the territorial dispute between the cities of Florence and Siena has not subsided for a long time. To resolve it, an original method was chosen: before dawn, with the cry of the first rooster, two riders had to ride out to meet each other. As a result, the place of their meeting will be the territorial border between the cities. For some reason, the black rooster from Florence woke up much earlier than the rival from Siena, and now most of the territory belongs to Florence.

Chianti these days

Currently, Bettino Ricasoli's recipe for dry red wine "Chianti" has been changed. For example, raw materials for the production of a wine drink shouldgrown exclusively in Tuscany, the proportion of Sangiovese grapes should be about 80%. Since 2005, the addition of white grape varieties to wine has been banned.

At the moment, more and more producers are trying to make this wine using only Sangiovese grapes, the berries of which are allowed to dry a little before starting to make the drink.

All stages of the production of red wine "Chianti" are subject to strict control, thanks to the assigned DOCG category. Therefore, all drinks of this brand are of the same quality.

Classification

Classify dry red wine "Chianti" accepted in accordance with the territory of manufacture and aging period. Thus, let's talk about the most popular types of drink in more detail.

Wine "Chianti" - a young wine, the production of which does not require long exposure. It has a pronounced fruit flavor and floral aroma.

"Chianti Superiore" - this wine has an aging period of at least one year. The wine is distinguished by its density and a wider bouquet. The palate has hints of raspberry, cherry and vanilla.

Wine "Chianti Classico" - a wine made in the area between Florence and Siena. The characteristics of this drink are highly dependent on the production area, which reaches seventy hectares.

"Chianti Classico Riserva" -this is an elite wine, the production of which is the best part of the harvest. Its exposure is more than two years. This drink has a pomegranate color, a powerful flavor bouquet, which includes strawberry, raspberry and vanilla notes, as well as a spicy aroma.

Wine "Grand Selecione" is a higher category of wine, which is awarded only after verification by regulatory authorities. The aging period of such a drink is about three years. It has a bright ruby color, rich aroma and taste of ripe red berries.

Using culture

Wine "Chianti" is combined with all the traditional dishes of Italian cuisine. It is worth noting that Italian cuisine is distinguished by its simplicity and unpretentiousness. Therefore, wine can be served with meat dishes, all kinds of cheeses, game dishes, salads and vegetable stews, as well as fish and seafood. This wine is served chilled to about seventeen degrees Celsius in tulip-shaped glasses that are filled a third.

Reviews

Currently dry red wine "Chianti" enjoys massive popularity among consumers. Among the advantages of this drink, a pleasant taste with a slight sourness and a floral aroma are distinguished. A simple Chianti wine is perfect for quenching your thirst on a hot sunny day. Well, the more expensive and rich "Chianti Reserva" can already be shared with friends at the festive table.

The price of dry red wine "Chianti" varies in our country ranging fromseven hundred to three thousand rubles. Of course, it all depends on the category and aging time. For example, at the moment the price of a bottle of "Chianti" harvested in 2007 reaches one hundred thousand rubles.