Chianti is an Italian wine region known for its Sangiovese-based red wines. The Classico sub-region produces the best wines, with Riserva wines aged for over 27 months. Some winemakers blend Cabernet Sauvignon, creating Super Tuscans, which cannot receive the Chianti appellation.
Chianti is a wine growing area in Italy that produces some outstanding red wines. Most wines are based on the Sangiovese grape, usually with some white grape added as well. Until recently, the wines of this region could not be entirely Sangiovese, but that has changed, allowing some high-end winemakers to produce outstanding examples of Chianti.
Within the area there are seven sub-regions, established in 1932. These regions are Rufina, Colline Pisane, Montalbano, Classico, Colli Aretini, Colli Fiorentini and Colli Senesi. The Chianti style differences between these regions are immense and even within a region, the wine can vary greatly from one vineyard to another. It is often said that there are nearly as many styles as there are grape growers.
The best Chianti wines are widely recognized as coming from the Classico region, with many of these wines aging substantially before release and having incredibly nuanced and powerful flavors and aromas. Chianti Classico is not only a sub-region, but also its own designated area within the Italian wine control body, the DOCG. This means that in addition to the requirements to be designated as a Chianti, wines from the region must also have a slightly higher alcohol content and come from lower yielding vines, giving the wine a fuller and stronger body.
Within the Classico denomination there is a further guarantee of quality: Chianti Classico Riserva. Riserva wines must be aged for more than 27 months, of which at least 3 months in the bottle before release. These are often the best examples of the variety, with some truly amazing vintages available.
Of course, not all Chianti is a fine wine, and the image of wine has suffered greatly in the United States due to the influx of cheap, low-end bottles. This style is often associated with the wicker basket and rounded bottle in which it is stored, and for many people, the name will always be associated with a slightly acidic wine that is far too robust and underdeveloped.
In the mid-1970s, a number of winemakers in this region decided to try and improve on the classic formula, while still using the base Sangiovese grape and Tuscany’s unique climate and soil. Some of these winemakers have taken to blending Cabernet Sauvignon with their wines for its versatility and robustness. Since Cabernet Sauvignon is not an accepted grape variety in the region, these wines cannot receive the Chianti appellation – even though they are often grown within that region. Instead of just being swept under the rug, these producers have created their own name for their wines: Super Tuscans. The super Tuscans of the region share many characteristics with the more classic Chianti, but generally they come across a spot between the area’s more typical wines and some of Bordeaux’s stronger wines.
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