RAISE A GLASS
When you click on to the Chianti Classico official website, this question is asked: “Chianti Classico is more than 300 years old. How old are you?”
I know it’s just a prompt around legal age, but to me it sums up the tradition this Tuscan region is rightly proud of.
Whenever you see the word “classico” on an Italian wine label, it indicates the wine is from a region’s traditional heartland. On my first day there, I met Giovanni Manetti, the president of Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico. As we stood in front of green rolling hills and vineyards, he laid out exciting plans for the region, including his winery
Fontodi.
In Chianti
Classico, the red cherry and herbal notes of the main grape variety, sangiovese, can sing to a different key depending how the land and microclimates influence the growing grapes. Which is why the consortium has created a new emphasis on place.
Sub-zones, known as Unità Geografiche Aggiuntive (UGAs) have been created. Eleven villages – including Greve, Panzano (home of Fontodi) and Radda – can add their names to the wines.
There isn’t room to mention all of the people I met, but I include Federica Mascheroni of the historic, hilltop Castello di Volpaia where wine literally runs through the village streets (well, piped under it to be fair); Laura Bianchi at Castello di Monsanto who showed us her family vineyards; Englishborn winemaker John Matta of Castello Vicchiomaggi who was the most cordial, enthusiastic host, and laidback Enrico Pozzesi of Rodano winery where I saw a black rooster.
The significance? The trademarked black rooster can be found on all Chianti Classico wines.
Look out for these wines online: Chianti Classico, Fontodi 2019 (£22.50, The Wine Society); Coltassala, Castello di Volpaia (£41.99, Adnams); Castello di Monsanto Chianti Classico 2020
(£26.95. The Whisky Exchange); Fattoria Di Rodano Chianti Classico 2019
(£15.75, vinvm.co.uk); Chianti Classico Castello Vicchiomaggio Montevasco Chianti Classico Riserva 2019 (£23, Laithwaites); Harrods Chianti Classico
(£20) made for them by John Matta and Castello Vicchiomaggio
■ Jane Clare was a guest of Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico. Follow them @chianticlassico on Twitter and Instagram or go to chianticlassico.com