Winemakers ‘soften’ Chianti to please more women
Growers of Tuscany’s famous red wine allowed to raise sugar levels in order to broaden its appeal
THE producers of Chianti, one of Italy’s most popular wines, are looking to broaden its appeal to more women and younger consumers from further afield. The red wine has been produced in the lush hills of the same name in Tuscany since the 13th century.
Now the Italian government has approved a request from the Chianti Wine Consortium that will allow wine producers to raise the level of residual sugars from the grapes they use to produce the famous wine in line with European regulations.
The changes were announced as Italy confirmed its position as the world’s number one wine producer in 2019, ahead of France and Spain.
According to the latest figures produced by Italy’s Wine Union and ISMEA, the agricultural research institute, Italy is expecting to produce 46 million hectolitres, or 1,011 million gallons, of wine in 2019, 16 per cent less than last year.
The consortium, which represents 3,000 growers in the vineyards surrounding Florence, insists a residual sugar rise will “soften” the taste of Chianti, rather than give it a sweeter taste.
Chianti is usually made from a blend of grapes, but predominantly the red Sangiovese variety. Until now, Chianti producers had to keep their sugar levels to a maximum limit of 4g per litre. Under the new rules, they will be able to add 2g per litre to the acidity total, which varies from one wine to another.
“It will still be a dry wine,” Giovanni Busi, the consortium president, told The Daily Telegraph. “The limit we have will be the same as other famous Italian wines like the Brunello and the Barolo. It won’t taste any sweeter.
“When we participate in wine fairs in Brazil, America or in Asia, people often tell us Chianti is a great wine but too hard, with too much tannin,” he said. “Women want wines that are more fragrant, with less tannin. This is a normal evolution.”
The wine from the picturesque region of Chianti where 15,000 hectares of vineyards are planted has evolved over time as tastes have changed.
Mr Busi said producers backed the latest change to sugar levels two years ago. He expects the softer taste will attract new fans and expand Chianti’s market particularly in the US, South America and Asia. “This will allow interested companies to present their dry wines, which are still of the highest quality but more pleasing to the palate in mainly Asian and American markets.
“We therefore expect an increase in sales in foreign markets.”
Meanwhile, the ISMEA warned Brexit could have a serious impact on Italian wine growers in an export market worth £2.3billion last year. The UK is the biggest market for prosecco, and producers want to introduce a “superior” label to distinguish it from other cheaper varieties.