An area between Florence and Siena dotted with ancient villages, old castles and charming vineyard hills that produce labels, in two denominations, among the most appreciated in the world. We are talking about Chianti between history, art, cuisine and, of course, wine.

There are countless imaginary references that place our country in the Olympus of world excellence and that make it one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in the galaxy of Beauty, History, Art and great Cuisine. The term Chianti certainly must be counted among the most important ones that are part of the world's collective imagination when one thinks of Italy. A beautiful territory , an excellent wine , a great cuisine : a term that includes a triptych of all-Italian pearls to be very proud of.

History and territory

From a geographical point of view, the borders of Chianti are not clearly defined, however, the territory can be considered to be included between the provinces of Florence and Siena and offers those who visit it, a succession of unique landscapes, characterized by gentle and green hills, large expanses of vineyards and olive groves, small villages, ancient fortresses, characteristic Romanesque parish churches and stone farmhouses, so much so that the landscapes of Chianti are so beautiful and particular, that they are often photographed and reproduced in postcards and calendars distributed throughout the world.

From a historical point of view, for centuries, Chianti has included the area of ​​the municipalities of Gaiole, Radda and Castellina , part of the old Chianti League , established way back in 1384 by the Florentine Republic. In every small town it is possible to come across cellars, castles or simple farms, whose name is placed next to the famous Gallo Nero brand, symbol of excellent Chianti.

The valley offers views of great charm: hills covered with vineyards, magnificent forests of chestnut trees, oaks, holm oaks and suggestive medieval villages rich in artistic testimonies such as Greve in Chianti, with its ancient triangular square bordered by palaces, porticos and loggias.

Another characteristic center is Radda that within the original walls, includes the ancient village with the Palazzo del Podestà and the old castle, while in the surroundings it preserves two wonderful Romanesque parish churches. Also worth a visit are Castellina in Chianti, with the characteristic central square crossed by the medieval Via delle Volte and its fortress, home to the archaeological museum and Gaiole in Chianti, surrounded by castles of historical value such as Fonterutoli and San Leonino.

Chianti wine

This wonderful valley, dominated by ancient traditions and gastronomic specialities, also forcefully reveals a deep love for its excellent product: Chianti wine, known and appreciated beyond national borders thanks certainly to Baron Bettino Ricasoli, an illustrious 19th century politician and far-sighted wine entrepreneur, who in 1872 created the formula that we still find today in the current Chianti Classico.

With the establishment of the wine zone in 1932, the territory known as Chianti was significantly expanded. In fact, the history of this territory has always been inextricably linked to the wines produced in these areas. Chianti is therefore the ideal destination for a journey into the Tuscan food and wine tradition: the municipalities in this area, in fact, are part of the production area of ​​the red wine Chianti DOCG , well-known throughout the world.

The Sangiovese vines, at the base of the Chianti Classico, are distributed across the hills of this territory, leaving space, here and there, for towns and hilltop villages whose streets emanate the scents of the cellars.

The two denominations: Chianti and Chianti Classico

Chianti and Chianti Classico then ? Yes, this precious wine that takes its name from its territory, is divided into two denominations with different regulations, a production area and a protection Consortium. And, for obvious reasons, the sensations that the two products will give are also different.

“Chianti” indicates an area between the provinces of Florence and Siena but the denomination “ Classico ” was born in 1716, when the Grand Duke Cosimo III issued a decree in which he defined the boundaries of a more restricted area within the band simply called “Chianti”: Chianti Classico, therefore, to obtain this name , must be produced only in the municipalities of Castellina in Chianti, Gaiole in Chianti, Greve in Chianti, Radda in Chianti and in part of the municipalities of Poggibonsi, San Casciano in Val di Pesa and Tavarnelle Val di Pesa.

The perfect combinations

Given the necessary differences, in any case this wine pairs perfectly with tasty products such as cold cuts – perhaps the local Cinta Senese – and with dishes that come from local kitchens and that recover foods that traditionally fed the poor, today ennobled to the point of becoming delicious ingredients of the most refined international cuisines: just think of dishes such as ribollita, stuffed neck , chicken livers and tripe.

A perfect way to not miss a single stop in this area is to cross it along the Chiantigiana, the road that goes from Florence to Siena and is much loved by motorcyclists. The stops will take the form of unmissable towns, among which we cannot fail to mention, in all their typicality, villages such as Montefioralle and Panzano : getting lost in the alleys of these towns could prove to be a stroke of luck, when, suddenly, you find yourself in this shop submerged in flasks or in that historic butcher's shop, not to mention the privilege of being able to end up in an original Wine Museum whose scent inebriates the air of this magical place.

As often happens when we find ourselves describing the beauty of some glimpses of Italy, words can help us understand how much beauty is hidden in our country and can activate our imagination, satiating it in part with the emotion of a planned visit to this or that corner of the Belpaese: it is only by going there in person, however, breathing the air of history, tradition and culture, that we will be able to reach the visual and cognitive ecstasy that completes an experience. Our study aims to be a stimulus, for those who have not yet done so, to experience the magic of a pearl located in the heart of Italy that allows us to proudly declare, "to have entered the myth!".

Written by Carlo Attisano for mangiaebevi.it