📜 Chianti Classico
The historic heart of Chianti between Florence and Siena, with red wines from Sangiovese.
Chianti Classico is the historic heart of the Chianti region in Tuscany, between Florence and Siena. It is a separate protected name, and its wines differ from ordinary Chianti, which is made over a much larger area.
The main grape here is Sangiovese. By the rules it must form most of the blend, and the rest comes from other permitted red grapes. The wines are red and still, with high acidity, aromas of cherry and dry herbs, and noticeable tannins.
The emblem of the appellation is a black rooster on the bottle. There are several levels: the young wine, Riserva, and the top category Gran Selezione, with stricter rules.
Chianti Classico is linked to Chianti in general but stands apart, because its vineyards lie on the best hills between the two cities. The wine goes well with Tuscan food: meat, pasta with tomato sauce and cheese. The borders of the zone were set as early as the early 18th century, which makes it one of the oldest appellations in Italy.
How it connects to Wine
📜 Chianti Classico ← main grape of ← 🍇 Sangiovese → kind of → 🍇 Grape varieties → kind of → 🍷 Wine
Links
- Related to
- 📍 Chianti
- Main grapes
- 🍇 Sangiovese
- Wines
- 🍷 Red wine, 🍷 Still wine
Frequently asked questions
How is Chianti Classico different from Chianti?
Classico is the historic centre between Florence and Siena, with its own rules and a smaller territory.
What grape is Chianti Classico made from?
Mainly red Sangiovese, which may be blended with other permitted red grapes.
What does the black rooster on the bottle mean?
It is the emblem of Chianti Classico and marks wines from the historic zone.
What to read next
- 🍷 Still wine — Ordinary wine without carbon dioxide bubbles.
- 🍷 Red wine — Wine from dark grapes that ferments with the skins and takes its colour from them.
Similar
📜 Alta Valle della Greve · 📜 Brunello di Montalcino · 📜 Montecucco Sangiovese · 📜 Morellino di Scansano · 📜 Rosso di Montalcino · 📜 Rosso di Montepulciano
⚠️ Wine contains alcohol: adults only, drink in moderation. Wine usually contains sulphites; egg white or milk proteins are sometimes used for fining — important for allergies and for vegans.