Chianti

Among the first things to see in the Chianti region are its magnificent villages. Travelling from one to the next is in itself an incredible experience: roads winding through the countryside, climbing the hills to look-outs on stunning panoramas. To discover the best of the Chianti Classico growing region, we suggest visiting Greve, Radda and Castellina.

Greve in Chianti is considered the ‘gate’ to the Chianti region. Its beautiful triangular square is  excellent milieu for a leisurely stroll and a ‘typical products tour’.  If you plan your trip to Greve for Saturday morning, you’ll have the opportunity to peruse the stalls of the vendors at the weekly local market that fill the square until lunchtime.  Just above the town is Montefioralle, a medieval village of cobbled streets, narrow passageways and flowers in the windows of nearly every home!

Another wonderful way to explore the Chianti territory is to focus on its castles, most of which are located in the Monti del Chianti hills in the area’s northeast corner: historically, a buffer zone of towns united in the Chianti League, an important Florentine defensive stronghold at the border with Siena.

In our opinion, one castle you will absolutely not want to miss is the Castello di Vertine. This fortified village in the territory of Gaiole in Chianti was part of a series of defensive positions, including the Meleto, Barbischio and Brolio castles, linked by direct sight lines. The village of Vertine is oval in layout; sections of its defensive walls are still intact. The visitor’s attention is immediately captured by the massive rectangular tower that served as the castle keep or donjon. The tower gives access to the north gate, which opens into a small square and then a maze of narrow village streets.

Vertine leaves visitors with the impression that they have stepped into a corner of the Middle Ages, into a relict village fortunately come down to us untouched by time.

Visiting Chianti and not tasting the world’s most renowned wine would be unthinkable . . . a  ‘sacrilege’ if you will. Thus, another thing to do while in the area is to plan a visit to the vineyards, wineries and wine cellars, where Chianti is born and ‘brought up’!

We can offer some suggestions for organising visits and tasting sessions: the Chianti Classico wine region is vast, comprising hill country around Siena and in the province of Florence.

By law, Chianti Classico is produced in accordance with strict rules and specifications: it must be produced with at least 80% Sangiovese grapes; other red-grape varieties must not account for more than 20%. There are three different ‘quality levels’ within Chianti Classico, differing by chemical and organoleptic characteristics: ‘Annata’, ‘Riserva’ (aged at least 24 months before release) and ‘Gran Selezione’, a classification introduced in 2013: a wine from a single vineyard or estate, aged for a full 30 months.