CHIANTI COLLECTION
A successful designation set to grow: the mention of UGAS on labels starting July 1st
It is one of the most galloping appellations in the Italian boot. the market is growing: +6% increase in bottles sold last year compared to the previous three-year period (+17% to 2021 and +46% to 2020). the usa market remains on the top of the ranking followed by the domestic one (19%) then, Canada (10%), uk (7%), germany (6%). the evolution of french market was surprising: +60% on 2020 even if the numbers are not comparable to the others.
A success confirmed by the high-quality level of tasting that we made at last edition of the Chianti Collection staged last February, a preview, once again, organized at the Leopolda in Florence by the Consortium, which we thank for the organization, as always masterful. An event born thirty years ago which in last edition signed the presence of 206 wineries and 750 labels. A two-day event that saw a boom of industry professionals, press and wine lovers. Two big news were shown: the most functional one finally concerns the possibility for producers to include on the label from July 1 the name of the 11 UGAS (Additional Geographical Units) which are: San Casciano, Panzano, Greve, Montefiorale, Lamole, San Donato in Poggio, Castellina, Radda, Gialle, Vagliagli and Castelnuovo Berardenga; the other suggestion sees the involvement of an important historical aspect of Chianti Classico namely the symbol we see on all labels: the Black Rooster. The Consortium wanted to pay homage to the legend that features it by making a short film that faithfully retells the passages of the story that sees the cities of Florence and Siena resolve a land dispute with a singular arbitration, entrusting the outcome to the result of a challenge between two knights. The point at which the two knights would meet, departing at dawn, at the roosters’ crows, from their respective cities would define the Florentine-sienese border. The Sienese chose a white rooster convinced that it would sing louder, while the Florentines chose a black rooster that they did not feed and the next day began to crow before dawn. The result was all in Florence’s favor: the knights found themselves only 12 kilometers from Siena.
The Chianti Classico area covers 70 thousand hectares, 9800 of which are devoted to vines and as many as 7000 to the production of the DOCG.
The zone spreads into 47 km from north to south and almost 30 km from east to west. Among Florence and Siena, the Chianti area is mainly covered by forests (chestnut, pine and cypress trees) located on a plateau at altitudes between 200 and 800 meters. The maximum altitude for growing grapes for Chianti Classico wine is 700 meters above sea level. The local climate is continental, with a significant day-night temperature range, generally low winter temperatures - below 4-5°C - and hot, dry summers, which often reach temperatures above 35°.
Geologically, the area consists of a layer of clay shale (marl) with layers of scaly clay, alberese, and subtle limestone sandstone.. The dark brown soil tends to be shallow, with textures ranging from clayey-sandy to stony with a medium clay content.
The soil type changes a lot making hard to subdivide the various soil types typical of the area. We may say, however, that marl-based soils are widespread in the area of San Casciano in Val di Pesa, while Greve in Chianti and all the lower areas have typically clayey limestone soils; large sandstone rocks characterize the ridge of the Monte dei Chianti; alberese is the main element in the central-southern area, and tuffaceous rocks are in the Castelnuovo Berardenga area. The areas with a remarkable presence of sandstone are severe and steep, while the limestone hills are softer and rounder, and the clay hills are even gentler. Basically the entire Chianti Classico production area, however, has soils rich in stony material, especially marls.
Looking forward returning to Florence for the next edition organized by the Chianti Classico Wine Consortium, which will celebrate its first 100 years next year, we report our best tastings of wines produced in 2021 and 2020; over fifty samples (most from Radda UGA). Two very different vintages, we can no longer pretend that climate change doesn’t exist, but Giovanni Manetti, President of the Chianti Classico Consortium said that ”the Sangiovese of Chianti Classico proves to be a grape variety capable to adapt, compared to other more precocious varieties.”
Check online our latest Chianti Classico reviews: vertdevin.com
erika Mantovan