The Sangiovese grape is by far the most widely used grape in Tuscan wine and is the main component in Chianti Classico. There is a very specific time period in which the grape must be harvested; the process can begin anywhere from the beginning to the end of September, depending on the length and varying temperatures of the growing season.
It is a very exact, strictly controlled science, and harvesting dates may vary slightly depending on where the vineyard is within the region. Along the same lines, the pruning of the trees will begin sometime between the beginning and end of November (depending on when the weather cools) and will last through the end of February. The rolling vineyards, as well as olive groves, are teaming with workers every year during the harvesting and pruning season.
The Chianti Wine region (which sometimes exceeds the Chianti area and overlaps other areas) is divided in 8 so called "sub-areas": Classico, Colli Aretini, Colli Fiorentini, Colline Pisane, Colli Senesi, Montalbano, Montespertoli and Rùfina.
Most of the wine coming from the Chianti area are labelled as Chianti DOCG and Chianti Classico DOCG. In some cases, they may be labelled also as Chianti Riserva and Chianti Superiore.
The symbol of ‘Gallo Nero’ on a bottle of Chianti Classico or Chianti Riserva signifies that the wine is DOCG approved and indeed grown in a very specific region within Chianti.