SERGIO ZINGARELLI, OWNER OF ROCCA DELLE MACIE, IS THE NEW PRESIDENT OF CHIANTI CONSORTIUM (AS WINENEWS ANTICIPATED YESTERDAY). TWO NEW VICE-PRESIDENTS ALSO ELECTED: FILIPPO MAZZEI (MARQUIS MAZZEI) AND GIOVANNI MANETTI (Fontodi)

Sergio Zingarelli, 53, from Rome, is the new president of the Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico. The official confirmation that Winenews anticipated yesterday, arrived today by appointment of the new Board of Directors that has entrusted to the owner and President of Rocca delle Macie, "the delicate task of leading the Association through the challenges of the wine market, which is becoming increasingly interested in global competition”.
Together with Sergio Zingarelli, who will lead the Consortium, two vice -presidents, Filippo Mazzei (Marquis Mazzei) and Giovanni Manetti (Fontodi) were also elected. Zingarelli is the thirteenth President of the oldest Consortium in Italy, founded in 1924.
The legacy of Marco Pallanti (Castello di Ama) has reached the end of his mandate. He led the Consortium with skill and passion and the Board has bestowed upon him "a heartfelt thanks for his tireless contribution and the determination with which he has also tackled the difficult moments of the Consortium’s life”.

“I am very pleased with the nomination,” said the new President, “primarily because it is an expression of the will of the whole social structure, including small businesses. The three years that I shall be in office will definitely be challenging and I hope to be able to successfully continue following the road taken by President Pallanti and contribute to the consolidation and enhancement of the excellence of the Italian and international wine world”.

Zingarelli, following in the footsteps of his father, the famous film producer, has always been a fan of the wine world and has long followed the events and work of Italy's oldest wine Consortium: in 1995 he joined the Board of Directors and in 2003 was elected vice President of the former Consorzio del Marchio Storico (Historic Brand Consortium, Black Rooster). In 2009 he was appointed vice President of the Chianti Classico Wine Consortium.
He was appointed by consent of the various interests represented on the Board of the Consortium (producers, bottlers, wineries and businessmen), who shared a strategic approach, based on the need to further increase both the content and quality of the product as well as protection for consumers, such as tools to address an increasingly competitive and complex market.

The changing of the guard comes at a crucial moment for the Consortium and the future of the name Chianti Classico: right at the end of Pallanti’s mandate, on May 28th, the shareholders meeting approved the "reorganization" of the name proposed by the Board of the Consortium. After two years of studying steps to enhance even more the name of Gallo Nero, changes to the specification provided for the enhancement of the Reserve through new rules of production, a new category of Chianti Classico that will be positioned at the top of the quality pyramid and the new Gallo Nero logo which will be removed from the government quality label, to increase its visibility.