CHIANTI AND CHIANTI CLASSICO DIVIDE WIDENS. DIVORCE BETWEEN THE TWO DOCG CONSORTIUMS WHO NOW PREPARE TO CHANGE, REGULATE, AND SEPARATE THEIR DENOMINATIONS, ONCE AND FOR ALL

The decision was made last December, but the “Wine Divorce” will begin its bureaucratic separation procedures this year while waiting for a definitive approval from the Agricultural Politics Ministry, which could possibly be given by the end of 2006.

The status is, however, already official: Chianti and Chianti Classico have separated and they are preparing to change their disciplines, thus unbinding for good the two DOCG consortiums. Divorced but living in the same house, one could say, given that the Classico area - 7,000 hectares between Florence and Siena - is located within the geographic boundary of the much vaster area called Chianti, which also includes four other provinces: Arezzo, Pisa, Pistoia, and Prato.

A question of image, visibility, and distinction, this is a move that has long been considered. But it is also a way to avoid the possible superimposition and “pouring off” of the denomination from Classico to Chianti, especially for less fortunate years and for those vineyards registered with both consortiums.
The separation was also facilitated by the merging of the two Chianti Classico consortiums (for promotion and tutelage), which occurred at the beginning of 2005. An operation which resulted in the Gallo Nero symbol to be used exclusively for Classico wines, excluding products from its “cousin” Chianti.