Italy’s Classic Comeback - Chanti Classico

Italy's Classic Comeback

A Chianti Classico is any wine produced in Tuscany’s central Chianti region. Chianti Classico is typically 80% Sangiovese—a thin-skinned grape that makes translucent wines.

“many CONSUMERS REMEMBER POOR-QUALITY mass-produced Chianti wines from the 1980s and thus have a bad perception of any wine with the word “Chianti” on the label,” says Mark Tucker, Executive VP, Worldwide Libations. “They must understand that Chianti Classico is a highly regulated geographical zone representing the original Chianti and that today the region offers some of the finest reds from the Old World.” The famous black rooster on the neck of the bottle in an easy indication of a Chianti Classico wine. “Chianti Classico must be 80% Sangiovese,” explains Tucker. “Villa la Pagliaia wines are 95-100% Sangiovese. Our wines have high acidity, good tannic structure, and a full body. They also have good aging potential, especially our Riserva and Gran Selezione.”

Villa la Pagliaia is a historical estate in southern Chianti Classico that has been producing wine since 1895. Villa la Pagliaia is in the southernmost part of Chianti Classico, close to Siena. The vineyards range between 900-1300 feet above sea level.

Chianti Classico wines are made in a smaller region distinct from regular “Chianti” wine. The Chianti Classico subzone is the original geographical zone for chianti and has the best terroir in the area with stricter regulations for growing Sangiovese. The production of Villa la Pagliaia wine is relatively small, and the grapes are not sourced from third party growers like many larger producers. The vineyard produces full bodied red wines that pair well with a wide range of food.