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Vino Chianti DOCG’s plans for upper tier and new sub-zone
Chianti DOCG’s plans to add a new gran selezione tier of wines as well as new sub-zone to the appellation is not likely to happen for another year, the consorzio has confirmed.
The Consozio first submitted the plans for the new premium tier of the Vino Chianti DCG Disciplinare and new sub-zone, which it hopes will increase the competitiveness of the product particularly in the US and Chinese markets back in November 2019. It is currentlty in the final stages of the two year approval process with the Tuscany Region, which will then need to be signed off by the Ministry of Agriculture and the EU.
The director of Consorzio Vino Chianti Marco Alessandro Bani confirming to db this week that the approval process is likely to take around a year from now.
However, the rules are set to have a retro-active effect, meaning that producers could start applying the principles of the new regulations into effect two years ago, in order to be ready to take products to market as soon as approval was granted. It is hoped that it will be approved in time for the release of the 2022 vintage.
The new Chianti Gran Selezione will have a higher minimum alcohol content (13% abv) and be aged for a minimum of 30 months. Producers can also include the name of the sub-areas on the bottle, including a new appellation, Chianti Terre di Vinci, where Chianti is already produced. The new subzone covers the four municipalities of Vinci, Cerutto Guidi, Fucecchio and Capraie Limite, which were previously included in the basic Chianti appellation.
The proposal for Terra di Vinci has already been ratified by the Consorzio, before it was submitted to the Tuscany region and the Italian Minster of Agriculture.
The President of the Vino Chianti Consortium Giovanni Busi said the desire to create a new sub-zone demonstrated the producers’ desire to showcase the area.
“It also indicates a willingness to strive for an even higher level of quality because the regulations for sub-zones are stricter than those of the basic appellation,” he said.
The Chianti DOC was officially created in 1967 comprising seven sub-zones – Colli Fiorentini, Colli Senesi, Rufina, Colli Aretini, Colline Pisane and Montalbano as well as the original Chianti Classico area that had been protected since 1716. The DOC was elevated to a DOCG in 1984, while Chianti Classico became a DOCG in its own right in 1996. Montesperoli was added to the Chianti DOCG in 1997, and Terra di Vinci is set to join it this year.
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