Cheers to Chianti: The History of Wine in Tuscany

by Madison McClelland

Chianti is quite a large region and is separated into 7 sub-zones.

Tinted with hues of white and red, beauty, history, and culture can be found in the bottom of a wine glass. Though wine can be found through multiple regions of Italy, the wine and process of the Tuscany region, especially Chianti, is loaded with a crazy past.

Wine in the Culture of Italy

Wine is not a drink that was recently popularized. The traditions and legacy of wine has dated back to the Romans.

The Romans learned how to cultivate and harvest grapes, also known as viticulture. These techniques would carry on throughout the evolution of Italy and be shared elsewhere. Still in the days of the Roman Empire, these tactics were being spread beyond the country. The concept of viticulture decreased significantly during the fall of the Roman Empire. There were very few producers once it collapsed. However, it rose in the Middle Ages due to churches. The maritime trade of the Renaissance really helped solidify its comeback. At this point, regulations to preserve Italy’s wine and prevent it from cross country contamination were instilled, playing a part in the four tier triangle when it comes to categorizing wine.

Wine is a common symbol amongst religion and mythology. Bacchus is the god of wine in Roman mythology. He is often depicted in pleasurable activities, including indulging in wine. Wine is also commonly associated with religious practices, especially as a symbol for the Blood of Christ.

Created by Arnaldo di Villanova, wine had begun to be used in medicine. It was started as a therapeutic method in the latter half of the Middle Ages. It was used to treat diseases and ailments as it hid the flavor of curative substances.

The legacy and traditions of wine in Italy have evolved with the world. In turn, schools for wine tasters and sommeliers began to pop up. This has allowed wine culture to remain sophisticated in the hands of outsiders that genuinely care about the history and production of wine. Todd Bolton, a Californian turned Florentine, is a wine expert that runs Tuscan Trails. Tuscan Trails provides wine tours where Bolton gives them a look into the behind-the-scenes of wine making and history. Once intrigued by wine in the United States, the passion developed during his time in Florence. “I had free time, I wanted to learn more about it, and I haven’t looked back,” he says in regard to his experience.

Bolton discusses concepts of wine history with the group.

The Pazzi Family

When the Medicis were in power, they had many allies but also gained some enemies. Of these were the Pazzi family. The word “pazzo” means crazy, and the Pazzi family definitely lived up to this. In collaboration with the Pope, the Pazzi planned to assassinate the Medici brothers during Easter mass on an April morning. The Pope had a falling out with Lorenzo. They wanted to overthrow the Medici brothers. They were young, so they thought this would be a perfect time to strike.

The castle located on the property was where they met to come up with these plans. They needed a safe space outside of Florence to avoid spies.

It was often difficult to find places where the brothers were together. Due to their status, they were walking targets. It was common for them to take precautions. To try and combat this, the Pazzis tried to create events where they would both show up. The mass in the Duomo ended up being the best place to execute their plans.

Giuliano de Medici was killed after being stabbed multiple times. Lorenzo survived and escaped barely wounded. He killed many of the conspirators not long after. He killed all but one member of the Pazzi family. He was spared because he was married to his sister. Lorenzo’s power only strengthened after this, as he had the support of the people and the absence of his major enemies.

The Winemaking Process

Italy remains a leader in wine production throughout the world. Wine has become a staple in the Mediterranean diet, as both a drink and an ingredient. It was even recognized in 2011 as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

The fermentation process remains relatively similar between wineries and vineyards. Though the process has evolved with new technologies, the concept has mainly remained the same. The fruit is selected for high quality by hand in the fields. This takes a lot of work and time, as they may walk the fields multiple times. Lesser quality fruits may be used for table wines. The grapes are then put in machines. Here, the grapes are stripped and stored in stainless steel tanks. The temperature is what starts the fermentation process. There is so much carbon dioxide created in the process that it can be dangerous for workers. They are usually encouraged to work with two or more people in the room as a precaution.

Aging in wine barrels can take anywhere from 8 months to several years. This can change the taste based on the duration, type of wood, and more.

In a discussion of the wine making process, Todd Bolton elaborated further. “It’s a relatively quick process, right? Like within a month, I’ve got my alcohol. Usually somewhere between 12 to 25 or 30 days is when the skins are in contact, so I've got the color,” he says. He goes on to state that some wines may go through a secondary fermentation called malolactic fermentation.

The Categorization and the Importance of Wine

As previously mentioned, the wine making process and the regulations regarding it can be discussed as a four tier triangle with different “levels” of wine: vino, IGT, DOC, and DOCG.

Chianti is one of the oldest regions for winemaking. There was a valley that acted as a path from the Chianti region to Florence before roads were paved between.

The bottom tier, Vino, simply has to be wine. It is not completely without rules, as there are still certain laws regarding this. Wines in this category can only be sold as white or red, and no other details can be given. The year found on the bottle is the year when the grapes were picked. Just because a bottle of wine falls into the last tier does not necessarily mean that it is bad.

The second tier is IGT. This is a newer category that was created more on a marketing basis. According to Todd Bolton, this is a “glorified table wine.” For a wine to fall into this category, the grapes must be grown in one single region. Of the twenty regions, they must be grown in one, and only one. There is a broad range of quality and type. For example, Masseto is one of the most expensive wines, but it is an IGT. This category of wines catered more towards North American audiences, as these wines are also typically seen on American menus.

The next tier is DOC. More rules and regulations are introduced in this tier, allowing the wines to be limited in the market. The recipe is dictated by the government, but the flexibility depends on the zone where the grapes are grown. In this tier, wines are basically told how they will be produced, which is often very specific. There can be a lot of these wines on the market due to the huge size of some of the zones.

The final, and top, tier is DOCG. In this category, there is a guarantee of authenticity and minimum level of quality. Rules must be followed in the creation of the wine. The government will come out to make sure it is of the utmost quality. They will take about 6 bottles to do a few things: conduct a chemical analysis, oversee a blind tasting, and keep for spot checking later. There is a band in the neck of the bottle that is specific to each one, allowing them to be tracked back to where they came from.

Dixon visits a restaurant with quite the wine selection.

Oliver Dixon, a visitor from the UK, visits a wine selection amidst their Italy adventures. When it comes to wine, he adapts a “when in Rome” mindset. “I think it’s important to eat and drink things that the country is known for,” he says. “Wine is everywhere in Italy, so I think it would be a waste to, you know, not drink and immerse yourself in something that's so well known.”

Wine stores and restaurants with wine bottles or décor can be found through the streets of Italy. Many individuals like to grab a glass with their meals or to be with friends. This has become something of importance that runs through the veins of the country. The beauty of castles and vineyards is one thing, but the history behind places like Chianti bring so much more to the ever growing enjoyment of wine.