Chianti Classico Unveils World Premiere of Gran Selezione

The world premiere of Chianti Classico’s new top tier wine, Gran Selezione, drew an exceptional audience of local and international trade and media to the historic Palazzo Vecchio in Florence last week.

The new wine category is a result of a radical revamping of the historic Tuscan DOCG. Until now, there were two quality types: the Annata (year’s vintage) and Riserva wines. The Gran Selezione, which crests above these categories, accounts for just 10% of Chianti Classico production and is expected to value at 70 to 100 million euros.

A HISTORIC DECISION: This is the first time that Italian wine legislation has permitted introduction of a new type of wine at the summit of a denomination’s quality pyramid, and the first time that a legal revolution of such breadth was achieved thanks to several years’ work by vintners and members of the consortium.

“Chianti Classico is the first denomination in the world to introduce a new wine to its qualitative pyramid,” says Sergio Zingarelli, president of the Chianti Classico Wine Consortium. “We are uniquely updating a 300-year history of great passion and great success to further advance the territory here and in international markets.”

OWN-VINEYARD WINES: Gran Selezione is made exclusively from a winery’s own grapes grown in its finest vineyards according to strict regulations. In addition to having the chemical and organoleptic characteristics of premium quality wines, Gran Selezione can be marketed only after a minimum 30-month maturation and an obligatory period of bottle refinement.

Gran Selezione will further consolidate, in Italy and abroad, the fame and prestige of what has become a real trademark of excellence, the Black Rooster brand: a jewel Made in Italy and impossible to reproduce anywhere else in the world. The Gran Selezione wines are distinctive for their perfect balance between elegance and potency, their great structure and ability to age. Thanks to their great versatility – typical of all Chianti Classico wines – they are also suitable for even the most daring pairings with various international cuisines.

GRAN SELEZIONE WORLDWIDE: Following its successful premiere in Florence, the Consorzio will launch Gran Selezione throughout Europe, beginning in Germany with Pro-Wein in March, the United States in May/June, Canada in June, and concluding in the fall with the major Asian countries of China, South Korea and Japan.

Gran Selezione wines included in the tour are: 

Badia a Passignano 2009 (Antinori nel Chianti Classico), Castello di Brolio 2011 (Barone Ricasoli), Vigna del Capannino 2010 (Bibbiano), Mocenni Particella 89 2010 (Bindi Sergardi), Don Vincenzo 2009 (Casaloste), Il Solatio 2010 (Castello d’Albola), Castello di Ama 2010 (Castello di Ama), Castello Fonterutoli 2010 (Castello di Fonterutoli),Bellezza 2010 (Castello di Gabbiano), Castello di Meleto 2010 (Castello di Meleto), Il Puro 2010 (Castello di Volpaia), Bruciagna 2010 (Castello La Leccia), Vigna La Prima 2010 (Castello Vicchiomaggio), Colle Bereto 2010 (Colle Bereto), L’Imperatrice 2010

(Fattoria di Corsignano), Lama della Villa 2010 (Fattoria di Lamole), Montemaggio 2009(Fattoria di Montemaggio), Beatrice 2011 (Fattoria Viticcio), Vigna del Sorbo 2010(Fontodi), I Fabbri 2011 (I Fabbri), Il Margone 2010 (Il Molino di Grace), Lornano 2010(Lornano), Losi Millennium 2007 (Losi Querciavalle), Ottantuno 2010 (Luiano), Sergio Zingarelli 2010 (Rocca delle Macìe), Riserva Ducale Oro 2010 (Ruffino), Cellole 2010(San Fabiano Calcinaia), Il Grigio da San Felice 2010 (San Felice), Tenuta San Vincenti 2011 (San Vincenti), Lilliano 2010 (Tenuta di Lilliano), La Forra 2011 (Tenuta di Nozzole), Vignole 2009 (Vignole), and Vigna Bastignano 2010 (Villa Calcinaia).

For more information please visit ChiantiClassico.com