A sense of place in CHIANTI
Following much debate over several years, in the summer of 2021 the Chianti Classico consorzio approved a new sub-zone classification, the proposal having been to allow 11 Unità Geografiche Aggiuntive (UGAs: ‘additional geographical units’) in Chianti Classico to add the name of their commune or township to the front label of their Gran Selezione wines (in the coming years this will extend to the Riserva and annata-level wines).
The approval of this law change, said to be by a ‘very large majority’ of the governing consorzio’s members, has encouraged producers in those sub-zones to gather together to form their own member associations, in order to unify, define and promote their own zone.
Chianti Classico is the historic centre of Chianti production, spanning some 70,000ha of territory between the Tuscan cities of Florence and Siena, 10% of which is planted to vines. Sangiovese dominates here, as it has to make up at least 80% of the blend for all Chianti Classico wines. To have more precise information regarding the origin of the wines will be greatly beneficial, believes David Gleave MW, managing director of importer Liberty Wines in the UK. Sangiovese, like Pinot Noir, is a site-sensitive variety and expresses beautifully the nuance of place, so the new move gives the consumer more opportunity to understand that specific place through the wine, he argues.
It is a challenge to explain neatly the detailed qualities of each sub-zone involved –
