Italian Red Wine - Chianti
Let’s talk about CHIANTI!!! This is one of my favorite red wines and I think a large part of that is because this wine typically accompanies pizza or pasta…
Chianti is a delicious, easy drinking red wine made from primarily Sangiovese grapes grown in the Chianti region in central Tuscany. These wines are often high in both tannin and acidity with flavors of red fruits (think red cherry) and dried herbs and as I mentioned… pair PERFECTLY with pizza and red sauce pastas.
With the Chianti Region dating back to the 13th Century… there is a LOT of info on Chianti that I look forward to sharing later, but for now, let’s talk about four different quality levels for Chianti, identifiable on the bottle as ‘Chianti DOCG’, ‘Chianti Classico DOCG’, ‘Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG’ and ‘Chianti Classico Superiore DOCG’.
Chianti DOCG – the grapes for this wine may come from anywhere in the Chianti region, making this the broadest appellation. Most of the wines labeled ‘Chianti DOCG’ are simple, inexpensive and are not intended for ageing – however, many of these are great value wines for the price point. These wines must contain at least 70% Sangiovese grapes and age for at least three months and have an alcohol level of at least 11.5%.
Chianti Classico DOCG – all grapes for this wine must come from the Chianti Classico subregion. The wines must contain at least 80% Sangivoese grapes, must age for one year and have an alcohol level of at least 12%. This wine often shows great complexity and is often matured in oak which helps to soften the tannins.
Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG – these wines are subject to stricter ageing requirements – two years before release – and must contain a minimum of 80% Sangiovese grapes. These are considered the most complex of the Chianti Classico subregion.
Chianti Classico Superiore (Gran Selezione) – decreed in 2014, this classification was developed to represent wines of superior quality from the Chianti Classico region. These wines must be made up of 80% Sangiovese – all estate grown, and must age for 30 months.
Chianti Fun Fact: Did you know that ‘Gallo Nero’ or ‘Black Rooster’ is the symbol of Chianti Classico? It always appears on bottles of Chianti Classico and Chianti Classico Riserva – so look for that on your next bottle!
If you’re planning a pizza night this week, make sure to pickup a bottle of Chianti to pair with it! I promise you won’t be disappointed!
A few of my current favorites to pair with pizza/pasta are Banfi Chianti Classico and Banfi Chianti Classico Riserva (typically both of these are great values at less than $20) and Montemaggio Chianti Classico (pictured above).
