DESTINIES CROSSING. MATTEO RENZI, NEWLY APPOINTED PRIME MINISTER, GAVE HIS FAREWELL SPEECH IN PALAZZO VECCHIO, HIS HOME AS MAYOR OF FLORENCE, IN THE SALONE DEL 500 WHERE THE NEW CHIANTI CLASSICO GRAN SELEZIONE WILL DEBUT

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“The Gran Selezione of Chianti Classico will select the wines of the denomination capable of competing with the best in the world”, said the president of the Zingarelli Consortium.

Destinies crossing. Matteo Renzi, newly appointed Prime Minister, gave his farewell speech in Palazzo Vecchio, his "home" as mayor of Florence, in the Salone del 500 where the new Gran Selezione of Chianti Classico course will debut.

“It's a historic event”, said the President of the Consorzio del Gallo Nero, “and it is not a coincidence that it will take place in this room. The majesty of the room and the place where, starting from the Renaissance the cultural excellence of Tuscany has always met and been exported to the world, could not have been a better choice to celebrate Chianti Classico’s new pinnacle of excellence.
The Vasari painting is in this room, where what became our symbol, the Gallo Nero, appeared for the first time. It has taken a lot of hard work and a long time to get this result, which started 4 years ago, under the presidency of Marco Pallanti and the previous board of directors. We realized that even with all the elements we had to be recognized as excellent - the well known companies everywhere, landscape, culture, art in a density no other Italian wine-growing area has - in spite of all this there was something missing. Our image was stale, so we started renovating the denomination, and made many changes to the specifications, from redesigning the symbol to its new positioning on the label. But above all, the biggest step was to create the Gran Selezione. It's a small revolution: at one time we spoke only of Chianti Classico and Chianti Classico Riserva, from now on, we will also speak of Chianti Classico Gran Selezione.
We created it to combine the excellence of the territory in a more homogeneous category, in relation to other regions of Italy and the world. We truly believe that it will be the driving force of the image and credibility of the Chianti Classico area. The Reserve will have its own space, as it is 30% of Chianti Classico sold in the world. Gran Selezione will have the role of raising the value of the image of the entire denomination. It would be wonderful to see, in a few years time, our Chianti Classico have the same reputation as the great Tuscan IGT wines”.

Focus - The first 39 samples of Chianti Classico Gran Selezione to be tasted at Palazzo Vecchio

What are the first 39 samples of Chianti Classico Gran Selezione to be tasted in Palazzo Vecchio?
Badia a Passignano 2009 (Antinori nel Chianti Classico), Castello di Brolio 2011 (Barone Ricasoli), Vigna del Capannino 2010 (Bibbiano), Mocenni Particella 89 2010 (Bindi Sergardi), Don Vincenzo 2009 (Casaloste), Il Solatio 2010 (Castello d'Albola), Castello di Ama 2010 (Castello di Ama), Castello Fonterutoli 2010 (Castello di Fonterutoli), Bellezza 2010 (Castello di Gabbiano), Castello di Meleto 2010 (Castello di Meleto), Il Puro 2010 (Castello di Volpaia), Bruciagna 2010 (Castello La Leccia), Vigna La Prima 2010 (Castello Vicchiomaggio), Colle Bereto 2010 (Colle Bereto), L'Imperatrice 2010 (Fattoria di Corsignano), Lama della Villa 2010 (Fattoria di Lamole), Montemaggio 2009 (Fattoria di Montemaggio), Beatrice 2011 (Fattoria Viticcio), Vigna del Sorbo 2010 (Fontodi), I Fabbri 2011 (I Fabbri), Il Margone 2010 (Il Molino di Grace), Lornano 2010 (Lornano), Losi Millennium 2007 (Losi Querciavalle), Ottantuno 2010 (Luiano), Sergio Zingarelli 2010 (Rocca delle Macìe), Riserva Ducale Oro 2010 (Ruffino), Cellole 2010 (San Fabiano Calcinaia), Il Grigio da San Felice 2010 (San Felice), Tenuta San Vincenti 2011 (San Vincenti), Lilliano 2010 (Tenuta di Lilliano), La Forra 2011 (Tenuta di Nozzole), Vignole 2009 (Vignole), Vigna Bastignano 2010 (Villa Calcinaia).
The Gran Selezione typology takes its place at the top of the DOCG quality pyramid, above Chianti Classico Riserva and Chianti Classico Vintage: a top edition that elegantly expresses the best of the vineyards.
The value of this product will consolidate, in Italy and beyond national borders, the reputation and the prestige of what is now considered a real brand of excellence, distinguished by the Black Rooster trademark: a jewel of Made in Italy and a capital to be safeguarded in its uniqueness and specific territory which are non-repeatable elsewhere.
Gran Selezione wines will be characterized by the perfect balance between elegance and strength, structure and the important tools for aging, and thanks to its great versatility - that distinguishes all Chianti Classico denomination wines - will also ensure the most daring combinations with international cuisines.