CHIANTI WINE TOUR,

among Vineyards, small 'Borghi', and Castles in the CHIANTI REGION

A  full day Tour, to the discovery of the Chianti region, where Vineyards, small 'Borghi' and Castles give life to a landscape of Tuscany you will not forget. An ideal  Terroir for CHIANTI WINE  one of the best known wines in the world

A bit of  HISTORY of CHIANTI  Production:

The grape composition for Chianti  has changed dramatically over the years. The earliest examples of Chianti were a white wine but gradually evolved into a red. Baron Bettino Ricasoli, the future Prime Minister in the Kingdom of Italy created the first known "Chianti recipe" in 1872, recommending 70% Sangiovese, 15% Canaiolo and 15% Malvasia bianca. In 1967.
The 'Denominazione di origine controllata (DOC)' regulation set by the Italian government firmly established the "Ricasoli formula" of a Sangiovese-based blend with 10-30% Malvasia and Trebbiano. However some producers desired to make Chianti that did not conform to these standards-such as a 100% varietal Sangiovese wine, or all red wine grape varieties and perhaps with allowance for French grape varieties such as Cabernet, Sauvignon or Merlot to be used. A few producers went ahead and made their "Chianti" as they desired but, prohibited from labeling, sold them as simple 'vino da tavola'  Despite their low level classifications, these "super Chiantis" became internationally recognized by critics and consumers and were coined as Super Tuscans. The success of these wines encouraged government officials to reconsider the DOCG regulations with many changes made to allow some of these 'vino da tavola' to be labelled as Chiantis.

The present  rules for the production of Chianti Classico wine provide for a minimum ratio of 80% for Sangiovese, the typical red variety of the zone. Along with the Sangiovese, other red grapes of the area can be used in a maximum percentage of 20%. These grapes include natives like Canaiolo and Colorino as well as “international” varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, all recommended and/or authorized for the production zone.

Today the name "Chianti" is a guarantee of noble wine, produced according to strict laws that protect the quality standard and with it, the sensory characteristics.
The characteristics of the climate, terrains and altitudes, which are unfavorable for most crops, have made Chianti Classico a region that excels in the production of premium wines.

A bit of  LEGEND AND MYSTERY about CHIANTI

(from the Legend of the Black Rooster, published by 'Consortium Chianti Classico')
 

The trademark always found on bottles of Chianti Classico is the Black rooster, historic symbol of the Chianti Military League and among other things depicted by the famous artist Giorgio Vasari on the ceiling of the Salone dei Cinquecento at Palazzo Vecchio in Florence.
The history of this symbol also includes a curious legend from medieval times recounting an event that in actual fact led to the definition of the political  boundaries of the Chianti territory, with a black rooster’s behavior ostensibly decisive. 

As the legend has it, in medieval times when the Republics of Florence and Siena were bitterly fighting for dominance, Chianti territory – because it lies between the two cities – was constantly fought over. To end the dispute and establish definitive borders of dominion, a very odd method was chosen. It was agreed that two knights would depart from their respective cities and fix the boundary point at where they met. Departure was to be at dawn and the signal to ride given by rooster crow, quite logical for an epoch when daily routines were paced by natural rhythm. In preparing for the event, more importance was given to the choice of the rooster than of the rider or the horse. The Sieneses chose a white rooster, and the Florentines a black one, which they kept in a small, dark chicken coop and practically starved for so many days that it was desperate.

On the fatal day, as soon as it was freed from the coop the rooster began to crow, although dawn was still far away. His loud crowing allowed the Florentine knight to set off posthaste and much ahead of his Sienese counterpart who had to wait for daybreak for his rooster to crow. And since the Florentine horseman had such a head start he met up with the Sienese knight at Fonterutoli, a mere 12 kilometers from the latter’s departure point.
And so nearly all of Chianti was brought under the power of the Republic of Florence, much earlier than the defeat of Siena itself.

Route