Chianti Classico Gran Selezione denomination regulations

Two key changes in relation to the Chianti Classico Gran Selezione category have been made, according to  Silvia Fiorentini, of the Press office of the Consorzio for Chianti Classico:

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1. The permission to add to the label one of the 11 named Additional Geographical Units (a specific delimited area with homogeneous characteristics).  The 11 Chianti Classico UGAs, or ‘Additional Geographical Units’, that can appear on Gran Selezione labels are Castellina, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Gaiole, Greve, Lamole, Montefioralle, Panzano, Radda, San Casciano, San Donato in Poggio, and Vagliagli

2. Keeping a minimum of 90% Sangiovese in the blend as compared to the existing 80% requirement- from the 2027 vintage onwards, Further, there will be a requirement to limit additional varieties to 10% of the blend and these will be restricted to native varieties only. But the PR clarifies it will be ‘down the line’ implying it may not be applicable from 2027.

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President of the Consorzio, Giovanni Manetti who also owns a premier Classico winery Fontodi that makes Gran Selezione too, states that “This is an historic achievement for the denomination. Now consumers will finally be able to choose wines produced in specific UGAs and fully appreciate the subtle differences inherent in the Black Rooster region. This represents a new step towards a greater appreciation of the unique characteristics of Chianti Classico”.

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Gran Selezione is the topmost quality in the hierarchy of Chianti Classico docg wines. Introduced from 2014 vintage, it constitutes 6% of total production. Though it has not made much headway in India yet, but it is bound to find favour with discerning consumers.

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The Chianti Classico DOCG territory is located within the provinces of Florence and Siena, covering an area of approximately 71,800hA. Some UGAs coincide with the name of the communes, such as Radda and Gaiole, while others are specified within a larger commune, or have merged with or been divided between communes within the Chianti Classico area.

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Breaking regions down into specific subzones is becoming increasingly popular in Italy and around the world. Many Chianti Classico producers believe that the UGAs will better communicate the wine specificities of origin to the consumer.

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According to the consorzio, 189 producers make Chianti Classico Gran Selezione. A vast majority of the consortium’s members have voted in favour of the venture, so one can expect a high number of producers to indicate the UGAs on their labels as early as 1 July 2023.

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Subhash Arora