Wine on the Radio - February 27, 2004          Listen

Chianti Zones

If there's one wine Italy is most identified with it's Chianti.   From simple jug wines to wonderful aged Riservas, every bottle shares a heart of Sangiovese, but soul based on its home territory.  

The Sangiovese gives us crisply acidic wine, aroma like a field of violets, and bright flavors.

But Chianti is a big area with lots of different soil, topography and weather influences.   So not all Chianti is created equal.  

There are eight identified zones to help us choose and here are three to look for on the label:

• Chianti Classico is generally the most consistent for quality.   Picture the Tuscan hills and sunshine.    For many, Chianti Classico is the essence of Italy .  
• But just outside Florence is a small area called Chianti Colli Fiorentini, and it's like the house wine of many of Florence's trattoria.  
• A bit north of the Arno River valley is Chianti Rufina, maybe the most artful of all, with wines more layered and complex.

Zone in on Chianti.

 

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