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A Brief History of the Chianti Classico Region
- By Nikolas Veddkish
- Published 10/25/2009
- Food and Drinks
Nikolas Veddkish
View all articles by Nikolas Veddkish
Chianti Classico Wine
Although there are references to Chianti wines being produced in the Tuscany region as early as 1398, it was over 300 years later when the Chianti territory was defined in 1716 by the Medici. The territory included the three main villages where various Chianti wines were being produced – Castellina, Gaiole, and Radda. These three villages comprised what was originally known as Lega del Chianti, and later the Provincia del Chianti.
By order of a ministerial decree, the territory was re-defined in 1932 and divided into seven new zones, with Classico being one of them. Today, only a small portion of the former Chianti Territory lies within the Classico boundaries. The original territory that had been designated by the Medici in 1716 now occupies only 15% of the Classico zone and only 6% of the new Chianti Territory. Now known as the Chianti Classico area, it is easy to understand where the Chianti Classico Wine name originated from.
Chianti Classico Wine from the 1950’s to the Present
Where Chianti Classico Wine is concerned, the 1950’s was not a kind decade. The wines that were being produced at that time were of such poor quality, that the consensus among the residents was to turn the vineyards into grasslands. At that time, there were only 4 vintners that produced Chianti Classico Wines - Antinori, Brolio, Frescobaldi, and Ruffino. All of the other wine makers sold product in bulk only.
In the 1850’s, the grape content for all Chianti Classico Wines was codified to define that all the wines should age well and be made from only two varieties of grapes – Canaiolo and Sangiovese. Additionally, t
he preference was that it should be mostly the latter of the two that was used. Interestingly enough, Biondi-Santi was the only vintner who followed these guidelines when he created his wine in the Montalcino region.
The 1960’s saw the Chianti Classico Wine industry in a state of transition. Numerous tenant farmers in the area were walking away from their land to find jobs in town while the larger land owners were selling off their farms to new residents that relocated to the area. These new land owners re-planted the vineyards using the coltura promiscua, which means that rows of grain and olive trees were alternated between rows of grapes.
In 1984, DOCG status was awarded to the Chianti Classico Wine region. Basically, this required that the wines had to be past by a tasting panel as well as numerous rule changes going into effect. The most significant change was that only 10% of the grapes being used could be non-Sangiovese grapes. Any of the Chianti Classico Wines were allowed to be 100% Sangiovese if the vintner wanted.
Although these changes and improvements had a significant impact on these wines, when the wines were recognized as a completely independent appellation in 1996, it literally changed the face of the Chianti Classico Wine industry. Today, the ethic remains “Better quality, lower production, and the introduction of new wines.”
Although there are references to Chianti wines being produced in the Tuscany region as early as 1398, it was over 300 years later when the Chianti territory was defined in 1716 by the Medici. The territory included the three main villages where various Chianti wines were being produced – Castellina, Gaiole, and Radda. These three villages comprised what was originally known as Lega del Chianti, and later the Provincia del Chianti.
Although there are references to Chianti wines being produced in the Tuscany region as early as 1398, it was over 300 years later when the Chianti territory was defined in 1716 by the Medici. The territory included the three main villages where various Chianti wines were being produced – Castellina, Gaiole, and Radda. These three villages comprised what was originally known as Lega del Chianti, and later the Provincia del Chianti.
By order of a ministerial decree, the territory was re-defined in 1932 and divided into seven new zones, with Classico being one of them. Today, only a small portion of the former Chianti Territory lies within the Classico boundaries. The original territory that had been designated by the Medici in 1716 now occupies only 15% of the Classico zone and only 6% of the new Chianti Territory. Now known as the Chianti Classico area, it is easy to understand where the Chianti Classico Wine name originated from.
Chianti Classico Wine from the 1950’s to the Present
Where Chianti Classico Wine is concerned, the 1950’s was not a kind decade. The wines that were being produced at that time were of such poor quality, that the consensus among the residents was to turn the vineyards into grasslands. At that time, there were only 4 vintners that produced Chianti Classico Wines - Antinori, Brolio, Frescobaldi, and Ruffino. All of the other wine makers sold product in bulk only.
In the 1850’s, the grape content for all Chianti Classico Wines was codified to define that all the wines should age well and be made from only two varieties of grapes – Canaiolo and Sangiovese. Additionally, t
The 1960’s saw the Chianti Classico Wine industry in a state of transition. Numerous tenant farmers in the area were walking away from their land to find jobs in town while the larger land owners were selling off their farms to new residents that relocated to the area. These new land owners re-planted the vineyards using the coltura promiscua, which means that rows of grain and olive trees were alternated between rows of grapes.
In 1984, DOCG status was awarded to the Chianti Classico Wine region. Basically, this required that the wines had to be past by a tasting panel as well as numerous rule changes going into effect. The most significant change was that only 10% of the grapes being used could be non-Sangiovese grapes. Any of the Chianti Classico Wines were allowed to be 100% Sangiovese if the vintner wanted.
Although these changes and improvements had a significant impact on these wines, when the wines were recognized as a completely independent appellation in 1996, it literally changed the face of the Chianti Classico Wine industry. Today, the ethic remains “Better quality, lower production, and the introduction of new wines.”
Although there are references to Chianti wines being produced in the Tuscany region as early as 1398, it was over 300 years later when the Chianti territory was defined in 1716 by the Medici. The territory included the three main villages where various Chianti wines were being produced – Castellina, Gaiole, and Radda. These three villages comprised what was originally known as Lega del Chianti, and later the Provincia del Chianti.