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The production rules for Chianti DOCG will be changed. This was announced by the Tuscany region in a press release. The regional government in Florence has approved the Chianti Consortium's request for far-reaching changes to the specifications of the Chianti appellation. The most important change concerns the percentage of grape varieties in Chianti. The minimum share of Sangiovese is to be reduced from 70 to 60 percent. This means that up to 40 percent of other grape varieties may be blended with Sangiovese. White grape varieties are still allowed up to a maximum of ten percent, Cabernet Sauvignon and/or Cabernet Franc up to a maximum of 15 percent. The lowering of the Sangiovese percentage could cause a loss of identity for Chianti. The stricter rules for the Colli Senesi subzone, which so far provided for a Sangiovese share of 75 percent, will be adapted to the new regulations. However, the maximum share of Cabernet Sauvignon and/or Cabernet Franc will remain at ten percent.
There will also be a new subzone called Terre di Vinci, which comprises the municipalities Vinci, Cerreto Guidi, Fucecchio and Capraia e Limite. The consortium's request to introduce the Gran Selezione category was not granted by the Tuscany region. Since 2019, the Chianti and Chianti Classico consortia have been arguing about the proposal, as the Chianti Classico consortium already established Gran Selezione as the top category for its appellation in 2014.
Although the term, similar to Riserva, has not been legally protected so far, the Chianti Classico Consortium has submitted a corresponding application to the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, which stands in the way of a final decision for the time being.
(ru / Source: Toscana Notizie/Regione Toscana; Photo: 123rf.com)