Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
CHIANTI
The ancient vineyards in this photogenic part of Tuscany produce the grapes used in the
ruby-red Chianti and Chianti Classico DOCGs, blends of red grapes with a minimum 75%
(Chianti) or 80% (Chianti Classico) Sangiovese component. Both are sold under the Gallo
Nero (Black Cockerel/Rooster) trademark. They're not the only wines produced in this re-
gion, though: the Colli dell'Etruria Centrale, Pomino, Vin Santo del Chianti and Vin Santo
del Chianti Classico DOCs are local drops, too. The biggest wine-producing estates have
cantine
(cellars) where you can taste and buy wine, but few vineyards - big or small - can
be visited without an advance reservation.
Split between the provinces of Florence (Chianti Fiorentino) and Siena (Chianti Senese),
Chianti is usually accessed via the SR222 (Via Chiantigiana) and is criss-crossed by a pic-
turesque network of
strade provinciale
(provincial roads) and
strade secondaria
(secondary
roads), some of which are unsealed. You'll pass immaculately maintained vineyards and
olive groves, honey-coloured stone farmhouses, dense forests, graceful Romanesque
pieve
(rural churches), handsome Renaissance villas and imposing stone castles built by
Florentine and Sienese warlords during the Middle Ages.
Chianti Festival
(
www.chiantifestival.com
)
, a program of arts events, is staged in June and
July.
For information about the Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico (the high-profile consortium
of local producers), go to
www.chianticlassico.com
.
In May and June the
consorzio
organ-
ises a popular 10-day festival featuring wine and food events called Chianti Classico E
(
www.classico-e.it
).
The northern half of this region (Chianti Fiorentino) is a popular day trip from Florence,
with visitors arriving by bus, car and bicycle.
Though it's now part of the province of Siena, the southern section of Chianti (Chianti
Senese) was once the stronghold of the Lega del Chianti, a military and administrative alli-
ance within the city-state of Florence that comprised Castellina, Gaiole and Radda.
