Events

New Chianti Classico Collection
February 2008

For the fifteenth time Chianti Classico producers held their annual tasting on which they presented the latest vintages.

Journalists and market operators were also offered an additional varied programme of events. All of it comes as a reflection of dynamic development happening in the region today.

Regular visitors of the Florentine anteprima will confirm that Chianti Classico progress in the past several years is quite impressive. It involves all aspects, from better quality of wines to changes in the mentality of winemakers who increasingly understand the necessity to make a joint effort for a successful promotion of Chianti Classico brand on the international markets.

The region has formed a good base from which Chianti Classico wines can regain recognition which they enjoyed several centuries ago. Division between Chianti and Chianti Classico production zones has already shown results. The symbol of Black Rooster on the bottles helps consumers identify wines as Chianti Classico. Generic advertising and promotion of wines on the Italian and international markets facilitate further recognition and awareness. The unified consortium continues building a new image of the zone with an aim for consumers to associate Chianti Classico wines with prestige and quality. The arrival of Marco Pallanti, owner-winemaker of trendsetting Castello di Ama, as the consortium’s president also strengthened the trust to new changes. If the consortium and producers continue to work actively in this direction and the wines’ quality meets the market’s requirements, it won’t be long befor Chianti Classico reputation will finally match the one enjoyed by the renowned Tuscan area of Brunello di Montalcino.

A few novelties awaited the guests of the tasting this year. Firstly, the event’s name has changed. From now on the Florentine anteprima will be known as Chianti Classico Collection.

According to organizers, the new name better reflects the meaning of the tasting as participants are offered a large collection of various wine brands under a general emblem of the Black Rooster. As Marco Pallanti states, Chianti Classico Collection “underlines the fact that at this appointment all or nearly all the producers of our territory can be found assembled in a united and systematic manner (as in “collections”)”. He also finds appropriate to compare a several metres long table laden with bottles with a podium as “it was precisely at Florence at the beginning of the sixties that the fashion parade of fine wines began to extend outward to embrace the entire world”.

In the previous years traditional gala dinners for producers and press were accompanied by a short art break which was meant to enhance a link between wine and culture. This time the organizers made the art experience accessible for all guests. A collection of photographs taken around Chianti Classico was presented at the tasting. Following the main idea of the event, the photos were turned into a collection of postcards which could be sent straight away from a desk of the Italian post office. The images were mounted in a short film first shown at the International festival of short films of Siena last year. The consortium sponsored the section devoted to works concerning the world of wine.

This year for the first time the Black Rooster was ‘let out’ on the streets of Florence. Apart from the professional tasting in the former train station Leopolda enotecas and wine bars held a competition for people drinking Chianti Classico wines. The prizes were glasses, decanters, aprons and other Chianti Classico branded items, as well as a professional sommelier course in Florence.

Starting from 2008 the consortium launched an innovative project based on mobile technologies. It provides information on a bottle of Chianti Classico bought anywhere in the world. By sending a text message to 366-3333603 stating a serial number and volume of a bottle, the client receives a response confirming producer details, wine’s certification and short technical information. Depending on the sender’s phone number the message is automatically sent in Italian, German or English languages. This is an additional step that goes well with the modern style of life and which once again helps strengthen the recognition of Chianti Classico wines by consumers on local and international markets.

It is worth reminding that production crisis suffered by the wineries several years ago is now well in the past. Starting from 2004 wine production is steadily growing (224,000 hectolitres in 2004 versus 288,000 hectolitres in 2007). By results of the last year Russia for the first time entered the top ten largest markets for Chianti Classico with a 2% share of total wine produced. USA (30%), Italy (27%) and Germany (10%) remain the leading markets for Chianti Classico.

The nature also appears to be favouring production of high quality wines for in the past two years winemakers couldn’t conceal their enthusiasm with the superior quality of vintages.

The consortium’s report states that 2007 is “an excellent vintage” where quality wins over quantity. Paolo de Marchi of the world-famous Isole e Olena estate is also positive about the vintage though describes it as “strange”.

“There was no winter as such. Vines started early, the flowering was ahead of usual. June was cool and rainy, the vines slowed down. July was hot, August was cloudy. In these conditions vines accelerated and slowed down in turn, but never went into stress. Sugars were high, but the other parameters — fruitiness, tannins, phenolic maturation were nice. In the end grapes were not picked too early”, says de Marchi.

The winemaker is certain that this is a vintage of new climate and warns that winemakers have to refine viticulture, especially reduce canopy. He also notes that though the fruit are very nice, “this is a bigger vintage. We have to see final balance”. Wines of 2007 will be successful if winemakers can manage alcohol levels and avoid their excess. Because of this issue some wine has already been declassified in Isole e Olena.

The verdict on finished wines of 2007 will have to wait for another year, but the Florentine tasting provided an ample opportunity to evaluate a large selection of 2006 wines due to be released shortly. After picking grapes and initial vinifications consortium’s technical director Daniele Rosellini stated that “2006 will be a great Chianti Classico vintage: exceptional alcohol level, excellent acidic structure, elevated content of polyphenols and excellent colour intensity”. The wines indeed exceed expectations. They have generous fruit, yet retain the hallmark elegance of Sangiovese grown on Chianti Classico terroirs. Ripe, soft tannins provide supple, silky textures. Acidity is well integrated in general balance making wines fresh and easy to drink. These wines confirmed what great potential Chianti Classico zone can have in right conditions. Definitely the vintage not to be missed.