Chianti

A Chianti is any wine produced in the region of the same name, in central Tuscany, Italy. It was historically associated with a squat bottle enclosed in a straw basket, called a fiasco, however, the fiasco is only used by a few makers of the wine as most Chianties are now bottled in more standard shaped wine bottles. Baron Bettino Ricasoli (later Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Italy) created the Chianti recipe of 70% Sangiovese, 15% Canaiolo and 15% Malvasia bianca in the middle of the 19th century. The first definition of this wine-area was made in 1716. It described the area near the villages of Gaiole, Castellina and Radda; the so-called Lega del Chianti and later Provincia del Chianti (a province). In 1932 the area was completely re-drawn and divided in seven sub-areas: Classico, Colli Aretini, Colli Fiorentini, Colline Pisane, Colli Senesi, Montalbano and Rùfina. Most of the villages that in 1932 were suddenly included in the new Chianti Classico area added in the region to their name-such as Greve which amended its name in 1972. Wines labelled “Chianti Classico” come from the biggest sub-area, that includes the original heartland.