Tuscany Wine Regions
Ciao Folks, Today we talk about Chianti vs Chianti Classico, 2 of the Tuscany Wine Regions.
Trying to solve this historical mistake about these Famous Tuscan Wine Regions.
Chianti and Chianti Classico are the same thing?
These eternal misleading names of the 2 different Tuscany Wine Regions.
Firstly, We need to know the map of Tuscany wine regions:
Here’s a link with more details: https://www.federdoc.com/en/
This First map, above, is that one of Tuscany wine regions. It’s for you to visualize the Historical(old heart) wine regions of Tuscany where both Chianti and Chianti Classico are located.
The second attached down below, it’s about the rest of Tuscany wine regions.
Secondly, looking at the maps above You will notice, for example, that Wine regions like Chianti Classico can produce 2 different wines, Chianti Classico DOCG e Vin Santo del Chianti Classico DOC.
These 2 wines are totally different.
Chianti Classico is a dry red wine and instead Vin Santo del Chianti Classico is a sweet dessert wine.
At the end, you can see that in total in Tuscany we have 11 DOCG, 41 DOC and 6 IGT wines.
http://www.assovini.it/italia/toscana/itemlist/category/210-igt-toscana
Differences between Chianti and Chianti Classico
What are the differences between Chianti and Chianti Classico?
First, the size of the wine regions. Chianti is a wider wine production area (The green line border n°3) than Chianti Classico ( n°4). So, in a smaller area, you have theoretically better and more identifiable wines than vast areas with less differences in climate, soil, location and etc.
Even inside Chianti Classico there are many differences between the single towns inside the wine region border.
The soil of Chianti Classico is mostly rocky, schist, a mix of calcareous and clay, called Galestro and Alberese where the grape Sangiovese can express its best. Instead due of its size, Chianti is much more varied and indescribable.
Second, The disciplinare, that is a sum of all the rules regulating producers and production, in Chianti Classico is more strict than Chianti. For example, in Chianti Classico, the yield per hectares is 7,5 T and 2 kg of grapes per plant. Instead in Chianti, 9,0 T and 3,5 kg of grapes per plant.
So you can understand lower quantities more quality.
And this example is only one of many more.
https://www.politicheagricole.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/4625
Third, historically Chianti Classico is the second oldest viticulture area in the whole world defined by law, in 1716 it’s when it was created.
Only in 1932 the Italian government decided to create the other Chianti divided in other sub zones. It’s in this time, in 1932 that the real and old Chianti, become Chianti Classico and the other became Chianti. At the end, historically there’s only 1 Chianti, CHIANTI CLASSICO.
Finally, The price, as reflective of the more importance of Chianti Classico. A bottle of Chianti is cheaper than a Chianti Classico
Last but not least, my idea is that the main difference is always in the producer. Good producers can make great Chianti Classico and good producers can make great Chianti. Bad producers can only make bad products not matter how important is name of the wine written on the bottle.
Suggestions
I suggest you only on way to discover the differences, drink both wines from different producers and let your taste buds do the rest.
Here I link you videos of my Sommelier Association where you can study more specifically about Chianti Classico wines:
Other infos about Chianti vs Chianti Classico in one of my past articles: https://www.outoftheboxflorence.com/2020/09/16/chianti-classico-wines/
Chianti Classico Hiking Adventures
If you are dreaming, an adventure in Chianti Classico where you can hike on white roads, vineyards and olive groves, tasting delicious tuscan food and Chianti Classico wines, you can join us. Exploring by foot, in a small private group, this part of Tuscany, leaving from Florence. Discovering Tuscan hidden gems of Chianti Classico towns. A Tuscany day experience hiking Chianti Classico, From Florence.
https://www.outoftheboxflorence.com/tour/the-great-chianti-classico-crossing/
