Chianti may be Italy’s best known wine: wines from Clantum were already being written about in the 11th century. Per the rules of the DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita), sangiovese must constitute 80% or more of the final blend, with up to 20% other grapes allowed, including pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon, merlot and syrah, or local varieties like canaiolo nero and malvasia nera. Chianti no longer contains white grapes, as it did when it was invented back in the 19th century by Baron Ricasoli, or even up to the 1980s, when these grapes were gradually phased out in an effort to allow for greater longevity. READ MORE »
