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Friday, August 2, 2013

Wine Education: Chianti



Wine Tasting at all FOUR locations



Taste Isole e Olena Chianti Classico  at all four of our locations this Saturday
August 3 from 11am-4pm.

(each store will also have other wines out to taste)



A little more education: We are going to try to feature either a grape or a wine region each week at our stores. We will give you some background information on the grape or region and feature a wine that highlights what we are featuring. We will taste that wine on Saturday at all four of our locations. We will post it here in our blog and send it out in our emails - click here to sign up for our emails





We have started a new label "Education" that you can hit to read all the education articles (see the right column under the heading "labels".




Wine Region: Chianti

The first definition of a wine-area called Chianti was made in 1716. It described the area near the villages of Gaiole, Castellina and Radda; the so-called Lega del Chianti and later Provincia del Chianti (Chianti province). . In 1932 the Chianti area was completely re-drawn and divided in seven sub-areas: Classico, Colli Aretini, Colli Fiorentini, Colline Pisane, Colli Senesi, Montalbano and Rùfina. Most of the villages that in 1932 were suddenly included in the new Chianti Classico area added in Chianti to their name-such as Greve in Chianti which amended its name in 1972. Wines labelled "Chianti Classico" come from the biggest sub-area of Chianti, that includes the original Chianti heartland. Only Chianti from this sub-zone may boast the black rooster seal (known in Italian as a gallo nero) on the neck of the bottle. Chianti has changed little from the original “recipe” of 70% Sangiovese, 15% Canaiolo and 15% Malvasia Bianca as formulated by Baron Ricasoli in the middle of the nineteenth century, though the white varietals are no longer allowed except in the region of Chianti Rufina. Today most Chianti is made using at least 80% Sangiovese grapes with the balance often being the more international varietals of Cabernet and Merlot creating a slightly more modern flavor and greater appeal. Long a store favorite we feel Chianti is the source of some of the great red wine values in the world. 

2010 Isole e Olena Chianti Classico....$21.99
"Dark fruit and pressed flowers on the nose. Tight, young and grippy palate with racy plum and cherry fruit, touches of pepper and an aromatic, herby finish. A wine of depth and fascinating complexity. 19pts/20 (96/100)"
Rated 96/100 Decanter Magazine

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