Chianti, following in the footsteps of Chianti Classico, launches its “Gran Selezione”

One of the most famous Italian words in the world is Chianti, which is also one of the largest wine regions in Italy, and now the Chianti wine district is launching a revival. The plan it has in mind will definitely be the talk of the town and most likely trigger uproar from the historical Chianti Classico denomination. The reason is that the Chianti Wine Consortium, led by Giovanni Busi, is ready to launch its “Gran Selezione”, just like the Consorzio del Chianti Classico (today led by Giovanni Manetti) did, very successfully, years ago. The Chianti Consortium explained that the criteria for “Gran Selezione” in the Chianti version are an “intense ruby ​​red color, tending towards garnet as it ages, a higher minimum alcohol content (13 degrees) and at least 30 months aging”. It will be able to be produced throughout the entire territory of the denomination; however, they will not be allowed to use the flask as a container.
The parameters are somewhat different than those of the Chianti Classico Gran Selezione, which specifies that the wine be produced from a single vineyard or from the best grapes selected among those the company owns, and more restrictive chemical and sensory characteristics than the Vintage and Reserve, 30 months aging period, of which at least 3 in the bottle, and also a minimum alcohol content of 13 degrees.
Undoubtedly, for many who claim that one of the great unresolved issues of Tuscan wine is precisely the “confusion” generated between Chianti (a name that essentially covers all of Tuscany, 15.000 hectares of already productive vineyards, to which another 3.000-4.000 undergoing renovation will be added) and Chianti Classico (which extends to the provinces of Siena and Florence, the entire municipalities of Castellina in Chianti, Gaiole in Chianti, Greve in Chianti and Radda in Chianti and, in part, to those of Barberino Tavarnelle, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Poggibonsi and San Casciano in Val di Pesa, counting 10.000 hectares of vineyards, and 7.500 hectares of vineyards suited for Chianti Classico), creating a new “Gran Selezione” for Chianti, with the identical name as that of Chianti Classico, will not by any means improve the situation.
Establishing this new typology, however, is one of the revision topics of the regulations, set up by the Board of Directors, and approved “by the members of the Consortium”, reads a note, “and therefore, the Region of Tuscany, the Ministry of Agriculture and the European Commission can begin the approval procedure, which is expected to take two years. The percentages of approval of the proposed amendment to the eight articles of the Chianti wine production regulations was between 89% and 99%. The total votes cast at the meeting represented 70% of the members".
“The approval process for the new regulation will take two years”, explained the director of the Consortium, Marco Alessandro Bani, “but we are requesting that it be retroactive for those who want to start producing Chianti immediately, following the criteria dictated for Gran Selezione and therefore put their first bottles on the market in three years. The Gran Selezione will guarantee the highest quality and will be a niche product”.
Furthermore, the new regulation, explained the Chianti Consortium, will also create Additional Geographical Indications, or more commonly known as "sub-areas", i.e., Chianti Terre di Vinci, linked to the territories where Chianti DOCG wine is already produced, including the Municipality of Vinci and Capraia e Limite - outside the subarea already included in Chianti Montalbano - and in the Municipalities of Cerreto Guidi and Fucecchio. “Moreover”, continued Bani, the new rules specify that the minimum alcohol content of the grapes for production of Chianti DOCG wine is higher, and likewise the finished product, for consumption, as a Chianti DOCG wine, will be raised to 12 degrees. Bulk Chianti must have a certification of suitability before leaving the cellars, which is a way to raise the bar of quality, bring clarity to the market and tackle any gray areas”.
“The Chianti Consortium Council has been working meticulously for a long time on the regulation, aiming for a comprehensive review and its objectives have been renewing the rules, simplifying for the benefit of producers and controllers, and higher quality”, commented the President of the Vino Chianti Consortium, Giovanni Busi. “We have increased the alcohol content and introduced a great innovation, which is the Gran Selezione, to increase the competitiveness of our products on strategic markets like China and America. Now we are waiting for the Ministerial and Community authorizations, as soon as possible, so we can begin. We are confident this review will give a further boost to the commercial success of our wines, at the international level, too”.