Although some bottles of wine may say ‘Chianti’ on the label, all have not been created equal.
Chianti Classico is a controlled combination of grapes that come from a very specific region on earth. In fact, the only place on the planet that can produce Chianti Classico is in the old and original Chianti region of Tuscany; it is a tradition that reaches back to the 1300s and is strictly regulated.
The DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) brand signifies, among other things, that the wine produced is from grapes grown in Chianti, and contains at least 80% Sangiovese, no more than 6% from Trebbiano Toscano e Malvasia Toscana and no more than 20% from a number of other grapes like Colorino, Cabernet Savignon or Merlot.
Chianti Classico may labelled also as Chianti Classico Riserva.
When a bottle of Chianti Classico is labeled togheter with a symbol of ‘Gallo Nero’ (black rooster on a red background) signifies that the wine is DOCG approved and indeed grown in a very specific region within Chianti.