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The origin of the name Chianti has often been the subject of discussion. Some people think that it comes from the Etruscan place name Clanti which has no meaning, others that it comes from the Latin clangor – noise, which might refer to the widespread hunting in the area. More recent studies point to the similarity with the Etruscan work Khlant, meaning water. Regardless of the uncertainty of the name, there is wide agreement that it was the Etruscans who introduced viticulture to the area.
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From the 13th century we know that wine was taxed in Florence and it is reasonable to assume that much of it was produced in Chianti. In the 14th century around 110,000 people lived in Florence and 400,000 in the surrounding area. Florence was the fourth or fifth largest city in Europe! The significance of Florence was part of the reason for the extensive agriculture in the large area outside the city. It was attractive to settle in the surrounding area of such a large city, in spite of the fact that the earth was difficult to farm as is the case in large parts of Chianti.
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Chianti wine was soon a success also outside the Italian peninsula and from the 17th century we know that it was exported to England. Even Shakespeare wrote of the wines of Florence. The reputation of the wine was great and it was copied in other areas. This made Cosimo III legislate on the extent of the geographic area of Chianti in 1716. So Chianti became the world’s first legally regulated wine area.
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But even though Chianti wines have been known for many years, the Chiantis we know today are somewhat younger. In 1834 Baron Bettino Ricasoli – a great Italian politician called the Iron Baron because of his uncompromising attitudes – wrote a Notizie sulla fabbricazione di vini, in which he described the grape combination for Chianti which was still used right up to 1984: sangiovese for aroma and strength, canaiolo for aroma and softness, malvasia and trebbiano for lightness and aroma.
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Chianti wine was incredibly popular especially in the years from 1870 to 1900, which led to the shabby copies from other districts. As long as the wine was poured in the classic fiasco bottle, it could pass as Chianti. In 1924 a group of wine producers from central Chianti formed a consortium, which took its name from the Lega de Chianti’s symbol – a black rooster. Consorzio Chianti Classico – Gallo Nero was to promote Chianti, maintain a certain order among the producers and protect the good name of the wine. Today this noble organisation has had to change its name to Consorzio del Marchio Storico following a court case with the Gallo brothers in the USA 1992-1996.
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The Chianti Classico district is made up of the following areas: Gaiole in Chianti, Radda in Chianti, Castellina in Chianti, Greve in Chianti, San Casciano in Val di Pesa and parts of Poggibonsi. The consortium is voluntary but as subscriptions are paid according to the number of bottles sold, many of the large producers do not want to participate. In spite of this 85% of producers are members.
From 1984 the permissible amounts of trebbiano and malvasia in the wine were reduced from 30% to 2% while it is now allowed to add small amounts of other grapes – in particular cabernet sauvignon. This change has come about because of market demands. Exports to the Anglo-Saxon world increased and this market wanted a more durable, less acidic wine with more aroma. This has been accompanied by an increasing use of small oak casks, so-called barriques, which on one hand ensure better wines in weak years and give the wine a round and full taste, but on the other hand risk eradicating the local characteristics of the wine.
In addition to the classic area, large amounts of wine are produced in Colli Fiorentini, Colli Senesi, Colli Pisane, Colli Aretini, Rùfina, Montalbano and Chianti Putto but these seldom rise above the great wines from Chianti Classico. In Chianti there are a total of 7000 producers making 12 million litres of wine every year.
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| Map of Chianti wine district (from Wikipedia) |
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We recommend the following excursions:
- Castello di Vicchiomaggio: You can easily imagine yourself on the set of Kenneth Branagh’s film version of “Much ado about nothing” when you visit this impressive chateau. For once it is fitting to talk about a castle and not just a farm because this awe inspiring place was built between the 9th and 15th centuries and from its standing on a tall hill it dominates the entire valley below. It is difficult to overlook the large castle building and its massive square towers even from a distance. Today the castle’s beautiful rooms are often used for weddings and other ceremonies when money is no object. Up to 300 guests can be seated in the castle’s elegant restaurant, which by Italian standards is a lot. But the castle has even gained a good reputation among hardened bachelors and people who have never set foot in Tuscany because of its famous wine production. The chiantis and so-called Super Tuscans produced here are top class and among the region’s finest.
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| Castello di Vicchiomaggio |
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- Castello di Verrazzano: There are vineyards in Tuscany with more impressive locations than Castello di Verrazzano and there are vineyards with a more imposing facade. But there are few places which can boast of such a long and glorious history or of so much atmosphere (or of such beautiful wine labels for that matter) as Castello di Verrazzano. The first sources to mention vineyards around Verrazzano date back to 1150 and there is something unmistakeably old fashioned about this place and its wine production. The Chianti wines made here are particularly traditional but more modern wine is also produced, such as the wines made of 100% sangiovese and stored in new French oak in so-called barriques. There are daily tours of the farm’s atmospheric wine cellars where you also go through the area where the wonderful vinsanto is stored. The farm sells good wines, olive oil and marvellous honey.
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