Following a few days in Tuscany earlier this year, Patrick Schmitt MW unearthed some surprising facts about one of Italy’s most famous and historic wine regions – Chianti Classico DOCG.
While it’s tempting to explore the new, emerging or rediscovered areas for viticulture, one does risk side-lining the long-established and successful. And I’m guilty of that when it comes to Chianti Classico – a region I have oft-defended as one of Italy’s best-value sources of fine red wine, and a beacon of Sangiovese-based vinous elegance, but also one I have failed to properly explore. Indeed, even within Tuscany, where Chianti Classico is located, more of my column inches seem to have been devoted to wines that fall outside this ancient DOCG’s boundaries – be it the prized and pricy brands from Montalcino (Rosso and Brunello), or the up-and-coming estates of the Maremma, as well as the famous Super Tuscans of Bolgheri, along with the rising stars of Montepulciano. The only Tuscan wine region that seems to get less attention from me than Chianti Classico is Morellino di Scansano – the Sangiovese-dominant red that people tend to forget about when talking about wines from this central-Italian area, with Florence as its capital. However, after a few brief visits to Chianti Classico over the past two decades, in October this year, I decided to go a little deeper under the skin of the region, taking part in a press trip organised by the Conzorzio, and, importantly, part-led by Italy’s ‘map man’, Alessandro
This Article was originally published on The Drink Business - Wine
