Dry and spicy red wine "Chianti" is traditionally produced in the central region of Italy - Tuscany, which since ancient times has been famous for its picturesque vineyards, olive groves and majestic cypresses. 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.
History tour
The first mention of Chianti wine dates back to the 14th century, when Italy was still inhabited by Etruscans. This ancient civilization was fully assimilated with the Roman Empire, which ruled this region. Later, Italian farmers used this name for simple wine drinks that were made according to their own recipes. For sale, such wine was bottled in cheap thin glass bottles and braided with straw so that the container would not break during transport.
The original Chianti red wine recipe, which consisted of 70% Sangiovese grapes, was first created by the Italian statesman and politician 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 a fragrant and effervescent wine drink suitable for both everyday use and long-term storage. The result exceeded all expectations, and the recipe for a wine drink Bettino Ricasoli gained widespread 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 enormous quantity of fake goods entering 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, a territorial dispute between the cities of Florence and Siena has not subsided for a long time. To solve it, the original method was chosen: before dawn, with the cry of the first rooster, two riders had to leave 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 today
Bettino Ricasoli's recipe for dry Chianti red wine has now been modified. For example, raw materials for the production of a wine drink should be grown exclusively in Tuscany, the share of the Sangiovese grape variety should be about 80%. Since 2005, the addition of white grape varieties to wine has been banned.
Currently, more and more manufacturers are eager 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 Chianti red wine production are subject to strict control, thanks to the assigned DOCG category. Therefore, all drinks of this brand are of constant quality.
Classification
Classify red dry wine "Chianti" is made in accordance with the territory of manufacture and aging. Thus, we will talk more about the most popular types of drink.
Chianti wine is a young wine, the production of which does not require long aging. It has pronounced fruity notes and floral aroma.
"Chianti Superior" - this wine has a aging period of at least one year. The wine is dense and has a wider bouquet. The taste sensations are notes of raspberries, cherries and vanilla.
Wine "Chianti Classico" - a wine made on the territory between Florence and Siena. The characteristics of this drink are highly dependent on the territory of manufacture, which reaches seventy hectares.
"Chianti Classico Riserva" is an elite wine, the manufacture of which is the best part of the harvest. His exposure is more than two years. This drink has a pomegranate color, a powerful flavoring bouquet, which contains strawberry, raspberry and vanilla notes, as well as a spicy aroma.
Wine "Gran Selecion" is a higher category of wine, which is awarded only after verification by regulatory authorities. The exposure time of such a drink is about three years. It has a bright ruby color, rich aroma and taste of ripe red berries.
Consumption culture
Chianti wine is combined with all traditional Italian dishes. It is worth noting that the Italian cuisine is simple and unpretentious. Therefore, wine can be served with meat dishes, all kinds of cheeses, venison 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, which are filled by a third.
Reviews
Currently, dry red wine "Chianti" is popular among consumers. Among the advantages of this drink distinguish a pleasant taste with a slight acidity and floral aroma. Simple Chianti wine is ideal for quenching thirst on a hot sunny day. Well, the more expensive and rich “Chianti Reserve” can already be shared with friends at the festive table.
The price of dry Chianti red wine varies in our country from seven hundred to three thousand rubles. Of course, it all depends on the category and duration of exposure. For example, at the moment, the price of a bottle of Chianti for the 2007 harvest reaches one hundred thousand rubles.