Editing Chianti (section)

==Chianti subregions==
[[File:sottozone chianti.jpg|right|thumb|350px|Chianti wine area within Tuscany]]
The Chianti region covers a vast area of Tuscany and includes within its boundaries several overlapping ''[[Denominazione di origine controllata]]'' (DOC) and ''[[Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita]]'' (DOCG) regions. Other well known Sangiovese-based [[Tuscan wines]] such as [[Brunello di Montalcino]] and [[Vino Nobile di Montepulciano]] could be bottled and labelled under the most basic designation of "Chianti" if their producers chose to do so.<ref name="Sotheby pp 282-286">T. Stevenson ''"The Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia"'' pp. 282-286 Dorling Kindersley 2005 {{ISBN|0-7566-1324-8}}</ref> Within the collective Chianti region more than 8 million cases of wines classified as DOC-level or above are produced each year. Today, most Chianti falls under two major designations of Chianti DOCG, which includes basic level Chianti, as well as that from seven designated sub-zones, and Chianti Classico DOCG.<ref name="Dummies pp 147-159"/> Together, these two Chianti zones produce the largest volume of DOC/G wines in Italy.<ref name="Wine pp 402-411"/>

The Chianti DOCG covers all the Chianti wine and includes a large stretch of land encompassing the western reaches of the [[province of Pisa]] near the coast of the [[Tyrrhenian Sea]], the Florentine hills in the province of Florence to the north, to the [[province of Arezzo]] in the east and the Siena hills to the south. Within this regions are vineyards that overlap the DOCG regions of Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and [[Vernaccia di San Gimignano]]. Any Sangiovese-based wine made according to the Chianti guidelines from these vineyards can be labelled and marked under the basic Chianti DOCG should the producer wish to use the designation.<ref name="Dummies pp 147-159"/>

Within the Chianti DOCG there are eight defined sub-zones that are permitted to affix their name to the [[wine label]].<ref name="Sotheby pp 282-286"/> Wines that are labelled as simply Chianti are made either from a blend from these sub-zones or include grapes from peripheral areas not within the boundaries of a sub-zone. The sub-zones are (clockwise from the north): the Colli Fiorentini which is located south of the city of Florence; Chianti Rufina in the northeastern part of the zone located around the commune of [[Rufina]]; Classico in the centre of Chianti, across the provinces of Florence and Siena; Colli Aretini in the Arezzo province to the east; Colli Senesi south of Chianti Classico in the Siena hills, which is the largest of the sub-zones and includes the Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano areas; Colline Pisane, the westernmost sub-zone in the province of Pisa; Montespertoli located within the Colli Fiorentini around the commune of [[Montespertoli]]; Montalbano in the north-west part of the zone which includes the [[Carmignano (wine)|Carmignano]] DOCG.<ref name="Dummies pp 147-159"/> 

{{As of|2006}}, there were {{convert|786|acre|ha|order=flip}} under production in Montalbano, {{convert|2236|acre|ha|abbr=in|order=flip}} in the Colli Fiorentini, {{convert|140|acre|ha|abbr=in|order=flip}} in Montespertoli, {{convert|1840|acre|ha|abbr=in|order=flip}} in Rufina, {{convert|8780|acre|ha|abbr=in|order=flip}} in the Colli Senesi, {{convert|380|acre|ha|abbr=in|order=flip}} in Colline Pisane, {{convert|1603|acre|ha|abbr=in|order=flip}} in the Colli Aretini, and an additional {{convert|25511|acre|ha|abbr=in|order=flip}} in the peripheral areas that do not fall within one of the sub-zone classifications. Wines produced from these vineyards are labelled simply "Chianti".<ref name="Oxford pp 162-163"/>

===Chianti Classico===

[[File:Chianti 0002.JPG|thumb|Chianti Classico premium wine]]
The original area dictated by the edict of [[Cosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany|Cosimo III de' Medici]] would eventually be considered the heart of the modern "Chianti Classico" subregion.<ref name="Wine pp 402-411">A. Domine (ed.) ''Wine'', pp. 402-411, Ullmann Publishing, 2008 {{ISBN|978-3-8331-4611-4}}</ref> {{As of|2006}}, there were {{convert|17640|acre|ha|abbr=in|order=flip}} of vineyards in the Chianti Classico subregion.<ref name="Oxford pp 162-163"/> The Chianti Classico subregion covers an area of approximate {{convert|100|sqmi|abbr=in|order=flip}} between the city of [[Florence]] to the north and [[Siena]] to the south. The four communes of Castellina in Chianti, Gaiole in Chianti, Greve in Chianti and Radda in Chianti are located entirely within the boundaries of the Classico area with parts of Barberino Val d'Elsa, San Casciano in Val di Pesa and [[Tavarnelle Val di Pesa]] in the [[province of Florence]] as well as [[Castelnuovo Berardenga]] and [[Poggibonsi]] in the [[province of Siena]] included within the permitted boundaries of Chianti Classico.<ref name="Wine pp 402-411"/>

The soil and geography of this subregion can be quite varied, with altitudes ranging from {{convert|820|to|2000|ft|abbr=in|order=flip}}, and rolling hills producing differing [[macroclimate]]s. There are two main soil types in the area: a weathered sandstone known as ''[[alberese]]'' and a bluish-gray [[chalk]]y [[marlstone]] known as ''[[galestro]]''.<ref name="Wine pp 402-411"/> The soil in the north is richer and more fertile with more ''galestro'', with the soil gradually becoming harder and stonier with more ''albarese'' in the south. In the north, the [[Arno River]] can have an influence on the climate, keeping the temperatures slightly cooler, an influence that diminishes further south in the warmer Classico territory towards Castelnuovo Berardenga.<ref name="Dummies pp 147-159"/>

[[File:Chianti-colline2-2.jpg|thumb|left|Vineyards in [[Gaiole in Chianti]] in the Chianti Classico area]]
Chianti Classico are premium Chianti wines that tend to be medium-bodied with firm [[tannins (wine)|tannins]] and medium-high to high [[acidity (wine)|acidity]]. Floral, cherry and light nutty notes are characteristic [[aromas (wine)|aromas]] with the wines expressing more notes on the mid-[[palate]] and [[finish (wine)|finish]] than at the front of the mouth. As with [[Bordeaux (wine)|Bordeaux]], the different zones of Chianti Classico have unique characteristics that can be exemplified and perceived in some wines from those areas. According to [[Master of Wine]] [[Mary Ewing-Mulligan]], Chianti Classico wines from the Castellina area tend to have a very delicate aroma and flavour, Castelnuovo Berardegna wines tend to be the [[most ripe (wine)|most ripe]] and richest tasting, wines from Gaiole tend to have been characterised by their structure and firm tannins while wines from the Greve area tend to have very concentrated flavours.<ref name="Dummies pp 147-159"/>

[[File:Chianti Classico.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Black rooster seal of the [[Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico|Consorzio Chianti Classico]]]]
The production of Chianti Classico is realised under the supervision of [[:it:Consorzio del Vino Chianti Classico|Consorzio del Vino Chianti Classico]], a union of producers in the Chianti Classico subregion. The Consorzio was founded with the aim of promoting the wines of the subregion, improving quality and preventing [[wine fraud]]. Since the 1980s, the foundation has sponsored extensive research into the viticultural and winemaking practice of the Chianti Classico area, particularly in the area of clonal research. In the last three decades, more than 50% of the vineyards in the Chianti Classico subregion have been replanted with improved Sangiovese clones and modern vineyard techniques as part of the Consorzio Chianti Classico's project "Chianti 2000".<ref name="Wine pp 402-411"/>

In 2014, a new category of Chianti Classico was introduced: Chianti Classico Gran Selezione.<ref name=CCGS>{{cite web|url=http://www.chianticlassico.com/en/2014/02/chianti-classico-gran-selezione-carta-d%E2%80%99identita/|title=Chianti Classico Gran Selezione: Identity Card|work=chianticlassico.com|publisher=Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico|access-date=22 January 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122121031/http://www.chianticlassico.com/en/2014/02/chianti-classico-gran-selezione-carta-d%E2%80%99identita/|archive-date=22 January 2015}}</ref> Gran Selezione is made exclusively from a winery's own grapes grown according to stricter regulations compared to regular Chianti Classico.<ref name=CCGS /> Gran Selezione is granted to a Chianti Classico after it passes a suitability test conducted by authorised laboratories, and after it is approved by a special tasting committee.<ref name=CCGS /> The creation of the Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG has been criticized, with some describing it as being "Needless; an extra layer of confusion created by marketing people hoping to help Chianti Classico out of a sales crisis."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.decanter.com/premium/chianti-classico-gran-selezione-revisited-382839/|title=What has Gran Selezione done for Chianti? - Decanter|date=23 January 2018|work=Decanter|access-date=24 November 2018|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-06-09/chianti-classico-gran-selezione-makes-a-super-premium-wine-grab|title=Chianti Classico Makes a Grab for the Super-Premium Market|last=McCoy|first=Elin|website=Bloomberg|date=10 June 2015|access-date=1 April 2020}}</ref>

=== Greater Chianti region ===
[[File:Logo Chianti.svg|thumb|Logo of the [[Consorzio Vino Chianti]] (''Chianti Wine Consortium''), the association of Tuscan winemakers ensuring the quality and authenticity of Chianti wines from different subregions, besides Chianti Classico]]
Outside of the Chianti Classico area, the wines of the Chianti sub-zone of Rufina are among the most widely recognised and exported from the Chianti region. Located in the [[Arno]] valley near the town of [[Pontassieve]], the Rufina region includes much area in the [[Pomino]] region, an area that has a long history of wine production. The area is noted for the cool climate of its elevated vineyards located up to {{convert|2950|ft|abbr=in|order=flip}}. The [[vineyard soil]]s of the area are predominantly [[marl]] and [[chalk]]. The Florentine merchant families of the [[Antinori]] and [[Frescobaldi]] own the majority of the vineyards in Rufina. Chianti from the Rufina area is characterised by its multi-layered [[complexity (wine)|complexity]] and elegance.<ref name="Wine pp 402-411"/>

The Colli Fiorentini subregion has seen an influx of activity and new vineyard development in recent years as wealthy Florentine business people move to the country to plant vineyards and open wineries. Many foreign "[[flying winemaker]]s" have had a hand in this development, bringing global [[viticulture]] and wine-making techniques to the Colli Fiorentini. Located in the hills between the Chianti Classico area and Arno valley, the wines of the Colli Fiorentini vary widely depending on producer, but tend to have a simple structure with strong character and fruit notes.<ref name="Wine pp 402-411"/> The Montespertoli sub-zone was part of the Colli Fiorentini sub-zone until 2002 when it became its own tiny enclave.<ref name="Oxford pp 162-163"/>

The Montalbano subregion is located in the shadow of the Carmignano DOCG, with much of the best Sangiovese going to that wine. A similar situation exists in the Colli Senesi which includes the well known DOCG region of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. Both regions rarely appear on wine labels that are exported out of Tuscany. The Colli Pisane area produces typical Chiantis with the lightest body and color. The Colli Aretini is a relatively new and emerging area that has seen an influx of investment and new winemaking in recent years.<ref name="Wine pp 402-411"/>