Chianti
De Wikignôle.
Modèle:Traduction Chianti is Italy's most famous red wine. It used to be easily identified by its squat bottle enclosed in a straw basket, called fiasco ("flask").
The popularity and high exportability of this wine at the moment of introduction of the DOC in 1963 meant that many regions of central Tuscany didn't want to be excluded from the use of the name. As a result, the large (for Italian standards) production area was split in seven sub-regions: Chianti Classico, Rufina, Colli Senesi, Colli Fiorentini, Montalbano, Colli Arretini, Colline Pisane. Only wines labeled Chianti Classico come from the heart of the area that is traditionally attributed to this wine. The other variants - with the exeption of Rufina from the north side of Florence and Montalbano - are originated in the respective named provinces: Siena, Firenze (Florence), Arezzo and Pisa.
It is based mainly on Sangiovese grapes but also includes other varieties, and traditionaly 5-10% of white grapes. Only recently it is allowed to produce a Chianti with 100% Sangiovese, or at least without the white grapes. It may have a picture of a black rooster (known in Italian as a gallo nero) on the neck of the bottle, which indicates that the producer of the wine is associated with the Black Rooster Chianti Consortium. Chianti and Chianti Classico that meets more stringent requirements, primarily with respect to aging (38 instead of 4-7 months), may be labelled Riserva.
Chianti is not the only traditional wine made in Tuscany, and there are also new wines, usually based on Sangiovese and some popular French grapes that are usually dubbed "Super Tuscans".
The word "Chianti" can be used as a semi-generic name in the United States if the place of origin is clearly indicated next to the word to avoid consumer confusion. However, with the popularity of varietal labeling, semi-generic names are rarely used today, even on jug wines.
Chianti Classico region
The region consists of five main communities:
- Greve in Chianti
- Montefioralle
- Convertoie
- Montegonzi
- Canonica
- Castello di Uzzano
- Castello di Verrazano
- Radda in Chianti
- Volpaia
- Castellina in Chianti
- San Casciano Val di Pesa
- Mercatale Val di Pesa
- Faltignano
- Campoli
- Gaiole in Chianti
- Castello di Brolio
Trivia
- The wine had a famous mention in a popular film Silence of the Lambs in the catchphrase "I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti."
- Chianti is also the name of Discovery Bay Phase 14.
