Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
HOW CHIANTI IS MADE
Crushing and De-stemming
The Sangiovese grapes are separated
from the stalks. The tannin from the
skins preserves the wine, but the stalk
tannin is too harsh for fine wine.
Chianti is made as soon as
possible after the October
harvest. The quality of the wine
can be very high, as wineries
have combined the best of tra-
ditional and modern techniques.
De-stemmer
Fermentation
The juice and grape
skins go into the vat
where a pump circulates
wine over the floating “cap” of
skins to extract colour, tannin
and flavour. Fermentation may
take up to 15 days or more.
Fermentation vat
Pressing
the Residue
Once the new
wine has been
drained off,
the remaining
skins and pips
are pressed, producing
dark and sometimes harsh
press wine. Stored separately,
this may be used in the final
blend.
Press
Harvest at the Brolio
estate in Gaiole in Chianti
Wooden
cask
The barrels
are topped up
to prevent air
from reaching
the wine.
Maturation
A second fermentation, the
malolactic, occurs in the spring,
softening the wine, which is then
run into wooden barrels to mature.
OTHER DRINKS
known of several non-
alcoholic drinks. The herb-
flavoured
amaro
or a
grapp
a
commonly round off a meal;
otherwise try a
limoncello
, a
sweet, lemon-based liqueur, the
aniseed-scented Sambuca or
almond-flavoured Amaretto.
Fruit juices are sold in small
bottles
(succo di frutta)
or
freshly squeezed
(spremuta)
.
In summer, iced tea or
coffee can be refreshing.
Italian coffee is drunk with
frothy milk for breakfast
(cappuccino)
or black
after meals
(espresso)
. An
espresso
with a spot of milk
is called a
macchiato
.
BEER
Beer can be a great thirst-
quencher, especially in the
summer heat. Draught beer
(birra alla spina)
is less
expensive than bottled
beer, and is sold by
the measure. Good
Italian lager-style
beers include Peroni
and Moretti.
Cinzano, a popular early
evening
aperitivo
APERITIFS AND DIGESTIFS
Pre- and post-meal tipples
include Campari, Cinzano and
the artichoke-based Cynar, as
well as Crodino, the best-
Espresso
Cappuccino
