ARTICLE 1
The Chianti Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita, accompanied
by the specification Classico, thereafter known as Chianti Classico, is
reserved to red wine that responds to the conditions and requirements
stipulated in the present production code.
ARTICLE 2
Chianti Classico wine must be obtained from grapes grown in the production
zone delimited in Article 3 below and derived from vineyards having,
within the estate framework, the following ampelographical composition:
Sangiovese, from 80% to 100%. In addition, red grapes belonging to
varieties recommended and authorized in the administrative districts of
the production zone of the grapes set forth in Article 3 below, can be
used in the production of the wine in a maximum ratio of 20% of the area
entered on the vineyard register.
Until and including the 2005 harvest, the following varieties can be used
in the production of the wine: Trebbiano Toscano and Malvasia Bianca
individually or together, to as much as 6%.
ARTICLE 3
The production zone of Chianti Classico wine is the area delimited by the
interministerial decree of July 31, 1932, and confirmed by Article 5 of
DPR 930 of 7/12/1963, Article 3 of the DPR of August 9, 1067, Article 3 of
the DPR of July 2, 1984, and Article 5 of Law 164 of 2/10/1992, and
independently regulated by Article 5 of Law 164/92.
That zone is delimited as follows: “Beginning with a description of the
boundaries of the part of this zone located within the province of Siena
and starting at the point at which the borders between the provinces of
Siena and Arezzo meet at the Borro Ambrella della Vena near Pancole in the
commune of Castelnuovo Berardenga.
From that point, the border follows the torrent Ambra and one of its
tributaries, not named, as far as the Ciarpella farm, then the mule track
leading to the Casa al Frate farm. From there, it follows a virtually
straight line as far as Ombrone (altitude of 298 meters or 977 feet).
The mule track descends to an altitude of 257 meters, where it meets a
cart path leading to the road to Castelnuovo Berardenga. That road climbs
to a height of 354 meters and then follows the Malena Morta ravine to its
confluence with the Borro Spugnaccio. The border continues along the
Malena Morta ravine to Pialli (227 meters) and then follows the Malena
Viva for a short stretch before proceeding along a virtually straight line
toward Santa Lucia (252 and 265 meters) and the Arbia. Upon reaching that
torrent, the boundary follows the administrative border between the
communes of Siena and Castelnuovo Berardenga.
The production zone’s boundary continues along the administrative borders
of Siena, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Castellina, Monteriggioni and Poggibonsi
until it encounters, at the Borro di Granaio, the confines of the province
of Florence, which it follows as far as the Le Valli farm. Afterward, it
follows the communal road, passing by San Giorgio and the Cinciano springs
and continuing along that line until it rejoins the provincial border and
the line between Poggibonsi and Barberino.
It then follows the Drove torrent until it enters the province of
Florence. At that point, the description is devoted to the part of the
zone situated in the province of Florence. Initially, the boundary follows
the Drove torrent as far as Mulino della Chiaia, where it meets the
administrative line between the communes of Tavarnelle and Barberino,
which it follows for a short distance. It then bends around toward the
east along another small stream, passing Biricucci and Belvedere before
reaching immediately afterward the San Donato-Tavarnelle road. It follows
that road to Morocco and then traces a virtually straight line that,
passing by Figlinella, reaches Sambuca and the Pesa torrent.
Still following the course of the torrent, the boudary parallels the
administrative border between the communes of San Casciano Val di Pesa and
Tavarnelle initially and then returns to the torrent after Ponte Rotto.
From that point, the zone’s boundary coincides with the administrative
confines of the communes of San Casciano and Greve.
The boundary of the Chianti Classico production zone then re-enters the
province of Siena and follows the administrative borders of the communes
of Radda in Chianti, Gaiole and, for a short distance, that of Castelnuovo
Berardenga before reaching the point of departure of the description of
this zone.
ARTICLE 4
Environmental conditions and the methods used in cultivating vineyards
that yield Chianti Classico wine must be those traditional in the zone
and, in any case, uniquely those capable of providing grapes and the must
and wine derived from them with specific qualitative characteristics.
Planting densities, training systems and systems of pruning must be such
as not to modify the special characteristics of grapes and wine. In
particular, all types training systems involving horizontal canopies of
the tendon type are prohibited. All types of forcing are forbidden and the
use of emergency irrigation is permitted.
Only vineyards that are located on the slopes of hills and are
appropriately oriented are considered suitable for entry on the register.
They must not be situated at altitudes above 700 meters and the soils must
consist predominantly of sandstone, limestone, marl, clayey schist, sand
and pebbles.
Vineyards situated in damp soils and on valley floors are considered
unsuitable and cannot be entered on the said register. Terrains consisting
predominantly of clay of the Pliocene and, in any case, markedly clayey
are not suitable even if they are situated within the delimited zone.
For new plantings of vineyards suited to the production of Chianti
Classico wine, the minimum density of rootstocks per hectare must be 3,350
(1,356 an acre), starting in the calendar year following the entry into
effect of the present production code.
Maximum permitted production of grapes per hectare is 75 quintals (3.34
tons an acre) and the average yield per rootstock cannot in any case
exceed 3 kilos (6.6 pounds).
In favorable vintages the quantity of grapes harvested and intended for
the production of Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita wine
must be reduced to the levels indicated above, provided that global
production does not exceed those levels by 20% without prejudice to the
limit on yield of wine from grapes for the stipulated quantities.
The maximum yield of wine from grapes cannot exceed 70%.
Whenever that yield exceeds the percentage indicated above but by no more
than 75%, the excess has no right to the Denominazione di Origine
Controllata; beyond that percentage, all the output loses the right to the
Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita.
The grapes destined to vinification can be subjected to prior selection,
if necessary, in order to assure a wine with a minimum natural alcohol
level by volume of 11.5%.
The vineyards can begin production of Chianti Classico wine only four
years after planting.
ARTICLE 5
Vinification operations must be carried out within the production zone
delimited in Article 3 above.
However, the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Resources—National
Committee for the Oversight and Promotion of the Denominations of Origin
and Typical Geographic Indications of Wines—can authorize, on the basis of
an inquiry conducted by the region of Tuscany, wineries situated outside
the said territory, but no more than 10 miles by air from the confines of
the zone and provided that such wineries were already in operation at the
time this production code went into effect. And they must belong to
establishments that vinify in them, individually or collectively, grapes
suited to the production of Chianti Classico wine that were obtained from
their own vineyards. Authorizations granted to date remain valid.
Operations involving preservation, bottling or bottle fining and aging
must be carried out within the production zone.
However, such operations, even if conducted separately, are permitted with
authorization of the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Resources—National
Committee for the Oversight and Promotion of the Denominations of Origin
and Typical Geographic Indications of Wines—by wineries that have been
bottling Chianti Classico wine for at least five years prior to the date
of the entry into effect of this production code and are situated in the
provinces of Florence and Siena or bordering the same provinces within the
framework of the region of Tuscany.
In vinification, only local, correct and consistent procedures permitted
by prevailing regulations, including the traditional enological technique
of the “governo all’uso toscano,” are authorized
Enrichment is permitted on conditions stipulated in European Community and
national regulations provided that the maximum production of wine per
hectare and the minimum natural alcohol level of the grapes, as indicated
in Article 4, are respected.
Enrichment must be effected either with concentrated must produced with
grapes originating in the production zone of Chianti Classico wine or with
concentrated rectified must or grape sugar.
Chianti Classico wine can be issued for consumption no sooner than October
1 of the year following the harvest.
Chianti Classico wine that is to be issued as a Riserva can be released
for consumption only after it has been subjected to at least 24 months of
aging and bottle fining of at least 3 months. And it must develop a
minimum total alcohol level of at least 12.5%.
The period of aging is calculated from the January 1 of the year following
the harvest.
ARTICLE 6
When it is released for consumption, Chianti Classico Denominazione di
Origine Controllata e Garantita wine must possess the following
characteristics:
ARTICLE 7
In identifying Chianti Classico wine the term vigna (vineyard) can be used
in accordance with Paragraph 3 of Article 6 of Law 2/10/1992, No. 164, on
condition that it is followed by a corresponding place name, that the
relative area is distinctly indicated on the vineyard register, that
vinification and storage of the wine occur in separate containers and that
the term, followed by the place name, has been reported, whether in the
declarations of grapes harvested and wine produced or the registers and
shipping documents.
The use of citations referring to personal or corporate names or
individual or collective brand names that do not possess any laudatory
significance or are not such as to mislead the consumer about the origin
or nature of the product is permitted provided the specific regulations in
effect are respected.
In addition, the use of terms referring to areas from which come the
grapes used in making the wine is permitted on condition that such terms,
different from the place names of vineyards, have been recognized in
accordance with procedures stipulated by Law 2/10/1992, No. 164, and
relative enabling decrees.
The year in which the grapes were produced must appear on the bottles or
other containers in which the Chianti Classico wine is issued for
consumption.
The addition to the label of any qualifications different from those
stipulated in this production code, including such terms as “extra,”
“fine,” “scelto,” “selezionato,” “superiore,” “vecchio” and similar
expressions is forbidden.
The term "Classico" on the labels of wines responding to the requirements
contained in this production code must always follow the word Chianti and
it must be printed in typographical characters of the same size.
For wines produced in the territory specified in Article 3 and with the
right to the Chianti DOCG accompanied by the specification Classico, the
term Classico must follow the denomination of origin, Chianti, even in
declarations of grapes harvested and wine produced and the registers and
shipping documents.
Dispensation from that requirement is permitted when at the time of the
declaration of the grapes or of the production of wine, as provided in
Article 16 of Law 2/10/92, No. 164, or anyway by and not after December 15
of the same year of the harvest, the producer of the grapes or wine can
renounce the right to the Classico specification. That renunciation, which
is irrevocable, applies to all or part of the estate’s production and
requires a separate annotation to the entry concerning the quantity and
the containers in which the wine is preserved on the production register
or shipping documents.
By the same deadline, December 15, the producer of the grapes and wine
must communicate the extent of the said quantity to the Inspectorate for
the Repression of Fraud and to the Chambers of Commerce, which maintain
the Chianti Classico Register and are responsible for the territory.
The chemical-physical and sensory analyses stipulated in the first clause
of Paragraph 1 of Article 13 of Law 2/10/1992, No. 164, for the quantity
of Chianti Classico to which the renunciation of the term Classico refers,
are carried out independently of the sensory examination for the DOCG in
the bottling phase specified in the second clause of the same paragraph
and in reference to the requirements specified for Chianti Classico.
For grapes of vineyards entered on the Chianti Classico register and the
relative wines, a choice may be made at harvest and the wine may be
reclassified as a DOC or IGT whenever the ampelographical base is
compatible with prevailing regulations.
ARTICLE 8
Chianti Classico wine can be released for consumption only in glass
containers.
Whenever Chianti Classico wine is bottled in fiaschi (straw-wrapped
bottles), any fiasco that is different from the type traditionally used in
Tuscany is forbidden. The characteristics of the traditional fiasco are
defined in Article 3 of the Decree of the President of the Republic (DPR),
No. 162, of February 12, 1965. In addition, bottling in used fiaschi is
absolutely forbidden.
Bottles or fiaschi containing Chianti Classico wine intended for sale must
be appropriate, even in respect to shape and embellishments, to the
traditional character of a premium wine.
In bottling Chianti Classico wine, corks must be used exclusively and they
must be level with the lip. The only exceptions are containers with crown
caps or twist-off caps with capacities up to a maximum of 250 milliliters.
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