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Chianti Classico DOCG

Chianti Classico

Chianti Classico is a standalone protected PDO/DOCG red-wine denomination, legally distinct from both Chianti DOCG and the separate Chianti Classico olive-oil PDO.

Photograph · Chianti Classico DOCG

The story

What you're tasting

Chianti Classico is a wine-only DOCG denomination governed by a current, style-specific specification. Its legal styles are Chianti Classico, Riserva and Gran Selezione; grapes, release and maturation rules vary by style and transition conditions. Producer, vintage, tasting, service, price and availability guidance require separate sourced research.

The European wine GI register identifies this canonical designation as PDO-IT-A1235. A different PDO of the same name applies to olive oil and is not evidence for this wine record.

Chianti Classico

Know it

Before you buy

Say it
kee-AHN-tee klah-SEE-koh
Color
Red
Keep it
Unopened: 10-20 years for Riserva, 5-10 years for standard. After opening: 3-5 days if properly stored.

The making

How it's made

The specification defines a historic delimited zone in parts of Florence and Siena provinces, style-specific composition and calendar rules, and a separate Gran Selezione vineyard rule subject to a transition. No universal alcohol, ageing or grape percentage is stored on this root record.

Chianti Classico is a protected wine designation, not a generic regional style, producer, bottle, olive-oil designation or a substitute name for broader Chianti DOCG.

Demijohns and barrels in an old Italian cantina

Verified details

Each statement below is linked to the record or institution that supports it.

Chianti Classico is an Italian wine designation recorded by MASAF as a DOP/DOCG, reserved for red wine that meets its production specification.1

The Chianti Classico DOCG specification recognises the Riserva and Gran Selezione mentions for wines that meet the relevant requirements.2

The Chianti Classico production zone is a legally delimited area defined by the specification; its boundaries must be represented from the current legal text, not inferred from a broad 'between Florence and Siena' description.2

This record is Chianti Classico's wine PDO, PDO-IT-A1235. It is a standalone DOCG red-wine designation, not merely a Chianti DOCG subzone and not the separate Chianti Classico olive-oil PDO.3,1

The legal styles are Chianti Classico, Riserva and Gran Selezione. Base and Riserva require 80–100% Sangiovese; Gran Selezione has a distinct 90–100% Sangiovese vineyard rule with a transition period. Base wine may be released from 1 October after harvest; Riserva requires at least 24 months of ageing including three months in bottle, and Gran Selezione 30 months including three months in bottle.1,4

Sources and citations (4)
  1. Ministero dell'agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foresteChianti Classico DOP (DOCG), disciplinare di produzione consolidatoTitle and consolidated specificationRead source
  2. Ministero dell'agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foresteChianti Classico DOCG, publication of ordinary specification amendmentArticle 1, denomination and winesRead source
  3. European Commission, eAmbrosiaChianti Classico wine PDOWine GI EUGI00000003623 / PDO-IT-A1235Read source
  4. European UnionChianti Classico specification amendmentApproved current specificationRead source

Where it's from

The land behind it

  1. RegionTuscany

Same shelf

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