Chianti Wine

Chianti is a red wine produced in Tuscany.  The recipe for this fine wine has 70% Sangiovese, 15% Canaiolo and 15% Malvasia Bianca. During the 1970s producers started to reduce the quantity of white grapes in Chianti. In 1995 it became legal to produce Chianti with 100% Sangiovese. For a wine to retain the name of Chianti, it must be produced with at least 80% Sangiovese grapes.  During our wine tasting we tried Chianti Superior.  Chianti Superior is an Italian DOCG (Controlled origin Denomination) wine produced in the provinces of Arezzo, Florence, Pisa, Pistoia, Prato and Siena, in Tuscany. Superior is a specification for wines produced with a stricter rule of production than other Chianti wines. Chianti Superior has been authorized since 1996.  Chianti Superior wines can be produced only from grapes cultivated in the Chianti wine areas except from those vineyards that are registered in the Chianti Classic sub-zone. Vineyards registered in Chianti sub-zones other than Classic can produce Chianti Superior wines but must omit the sub-zone name on the label. Ageing is calculated from 1 January after the picking. Chianti Superior cannot be sold to the consumer before nine months of ageing, of which three must be in the bottle. Therefore it cannot be bottled before the June after picking or sold to consumers before the next September.