Chianti and Super Tuscan wines

Chianti and Super Tuscan wines

Welcome to Vine to Wine this is your host Linda Moran. Yesterday we discussed the grape Sagiovese, today we are moving on to as discussion of wines made from it.

Chianti is an area within the Italian region of Tuscany.  It just so happens that in Europe many of the wines are named for the place they come from. So Chianti is the name of the place and the wine. This particular area Chianti divides itself into a geographic designation within Chianti called the classico portion of Chianti. It is identified as such because the soils are higher in limestone and minerals which are conducive to growing great Sangiovese, which as we learned yesterday, is the predominant grape in the red wine we know as Chianti.  The areas outside of the classico portion of Chianti are higher is clay based soils and do not always grow grapes of such distinction. So when you buy a Chianti Classico all of the grapes making up the wine will be from that designated area and will likely cost more than other Chianti not carrying the classico identification. If the wine in addition declares itself a Reserva you know it has spent extra time aging in the barrique or barrel and will again likely cost a bit more – but in most cases is well worth it. Now to confuse matters more there is a more modern wine being made in the Tuscan region of Chianti which is affectionately called a “Super Tuscan”, And that sounds like a whole new program . . . so let’s say tomorrow we discuss Super Tuscan wines. In the meantime, send your wine questions to linda at vine to wine dot net and thanks for joining me on today’s Vine to Wine.

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