Fall in Love With Chianti Again
Remember when we’d twist a candle into an empty bottle of Chianti and then watch the colorful wax meander down the dark glass wrapped in a straw basket? Admittedly, a red-checkered tablecloth graced with a Chianti bottle did make a lovely centerpiece, but this popular Italian red has come a long way since then; it’s worth a closer look. And we’re talking about enjoying its delicious flavor – not its candle-holding properties.
So nostalgic!
Chianti is from the Tuscany region in central Italy. The area is known for its stunning beauty, spectacular vineyards, and bold, ruby-hued Sangiovese grape, which is the basis of Chianti.
Italian winemakers produce wine specifically meant to be enjoyed with food, and Chianti is no exception. The taste is reminiscent of tart cherries and other fruits and has an earthy, woodsy aroma. Chianti tends to be medium-bodied with high tannin and acidity, allowing it to pair beautifully with pizza, pasta, and other tomato sauce dishes. Besides traditional Italian food, it also can hold its own with grilled burgers and roasted meats. (We hear it goes well with fava beans, but we’re not going to touch that one.)
Within the Tuscany region, there are two main production zones for this wine: Chianti and Chianti Classico, and each zone produces its style of Chianti. A Chianti DOC (Determination of Controlled Origin) must consist of at least 70% Sangiovese grapes and no more than 10% Malvasia or Trebbiano white grapes or other native or international grapes such as Colorino, Merlot, or Syrah.
There are serious roots within this glass!
Chianti Classico is generally grown at higher elevations than Chianti DOC. Still, one of the main differences between the two is that Chianti Classico is DOCG, which means Determination of Controlled Origin Guaranteed. The Classico wines aren’t allowed to add white grapes to the blend; they must consist of 80% Sangiovese and must be aged for a year. But wait! There’s more! Chianti Classico Riserva must be aged for 24 months, and the king of the crop, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione, must be aged for 30 months.
That’s a long time to wait for a drink!
You can go for something easy to drink, light-bodied, and reasonably priced – or get an aged vintage and pay a little more. You can’t go wrong with Piccini, Gabbiano, or Dianella for a Chianti DOC. For Chianti Classico, grab a bottle of a Ruffino, Volpaia, or Castell d’Albola, which are under $30 and highly recommended. And if you’re longing for that basket-covered bottle for ol’ time's sake, look for Bell’Agio (candle not included.)
Want to learn more about wine regions and different types of wine? Join us for one of Boston Winery’s wine-tasting events. It’s fun, it’s social, and it’s educational!
