.jpg) ITALY
Florence, golfing in the
Medici's gardens
About Chianti
First the Chianti region
and its rows of vines that manage to march in arrow-straight
formation up the rolling hillsides, bounded by single files
of cypress trees. Snaking roads lead to rust-colored farmhouses
(often transformed in superb agri-tourism accommodations)
and moss-coated castles, symmetrically rounded hilltops surmounted
by towns so homogeneous as to seem one single building. Every
inch of land has been sculpted, first by the elements and
then by generations of inhabitants whose goals were always
twofold: make the land produce as much as possible, make the
land as beautiful as possible. So, Toscanian don't want to
be arrogant, they know where lies the origin of their richness,
in nature and beauty.
- Chianti
Tuscany is known throughout the world as a cradle of great
wines but, in the "old days", "il fiasco",
the straw covered basket-bottle wine was the typical representation
of Chianti. This 1,5 litre container has practically disappeared,
partly due to the fact that it was associated with gluggable
wine rather than the higher quality which has supplanted it.
Chianti now comes mainly in a standard bordeaux glass bottle,
looking for a more elegant image.
The roots of Chianti vines may be very deep going back to
Etruscans. But it is the "iron Baron" Bettino Ricasoli
who, in the 19th century, imposed the selection of the Sangiovese
grape as the chief one in the production of Chianti wine.
And the legal and administrative nature of the industry was
established in the 20th century.
In 1924, a group of 33 producers in Radda, pledged their support
to the quality and promotion of the Chianti Classico. Their
symbol, the "Gallo Nero" (black rooster)
continues to distinguish their members' product. Additionally,
in 1932, the Ministry of Agriculture designated the nine communes
in the Florence and Siena provinces which were authorized
to produce Chianti classico. The last rules, inspired
by the French wine organization, have been introduced in Italy
with the DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata), meaning
that origin and production methods of these wines are controlled.
So that only wines from this region can properly be called
Chianti.
Chianti is made of four different grape varieties, the most
important of which being the Sangiovese (75 to 90%). Close
to a garnet red, this grape provides a fruity aroma with a
smooth velvet taste. The other grapes are the Canaiolo, a
red grape (5 - 10%), and two white grapes, the Malvasia bianco
and Trebbiano toscana (2 - 6%). Sometimes other red grapes
(Cabernet, Cabernet Sauvigon, Merlot…) are used, but
only up to 10% of total content.
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Antinori
The aristocratic Antinori family has been in the wine business
since Giovanni di Piero Antinori joined the Florentine Guild
of Vintners in 1385, more than 26 generations ago. Throughout
the company's long history it has remained family owned and
operated, and today it is directed by Marchese Piero Antinori.
Though Antinori has played an important role in preserving
Italy's enological traditions it is also one of Italy's most
dynamic and visionary producers of fine wines, with estates
concentrated in the best viticultural areas Tuscany, Umbria
and Piedmont but also Hungary and Napa Valley (California).
Thirty years ago Chianti matured in huge oak casks called
botti; the wood, unless it was quite new, surrendered nothing
to the wine, which emerged with its tannins softened slightly
by age and the oxygen that filtered through the wood, but
otherwise relatively unaltered. Then Marchese Piero Antinori
began experimenting with barriques of 225 l, small French
oak barrels; the wine that emerged had hitherto unknown complexities
on palate and nose, backed by tremendous power and finesse
but only when they just receive the wood they need. So they
created the first super Tuscans, the Solaia, Santa Cristina,
Tignanello… served at the table of the Villa San Michele
or Enoteca Pinchiori.
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Chianti vineyards
Tasting wine
The complex flavor of great wine conceals an ancient culinary
tradition. A variety of savors combines perfectly with the
fragrances of the wines and the beauty of the landscape. Because
of the genuineness and richness of the products of the Chianti
zone, Dante Alighieri said that bread needs no salt.
To get advice and information concerning wine tasting (conditions,
glass shape, stages in tasting like appearance, smelling,
colour, clarity, aso… consult: www.chiantinet.it
Fine wines in elegant bottles
from modern wineries
matured in oak barrels
at Antinori's tenute.
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