Watch almost any romantic movie or go to any Italian restaurant and you will hear the word Chianti associated with a common, average red wine from Italy. However, in reality Chianti is anything but common. To prove it here are a few fun facts about the region and wine.
- All Chianti is produced in Tuscany, Italy
- 70% of Tuscan vineyards are devoted to the production of red wines
- Sangiovese is the principal red grape of Chianti
- Chianti is actually a DOCG. DOCG stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita which represents the best of Italian wine
- The general recipe for Chianti DOCG requires 70-100% Sangiovese
- The addition of the white grapes Trebbiano and Malvasia is now optional rather than mandatory
- Riserva refers to how long the wine has been aged
- Chianti has eight subzones: Classico, Rùfina, Colli Fiorentini, Colli Senesi, Colline Pisane, Colli Aretini, Montalbano, and Montespertoli (each with their own allowed percentages of Sangiovese)
And the rules go on and on. So the next time you hear or see the word Chianti just remember it is anything but average.
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