May 10, 2026 - Tuscany

Tuscany - May 10, 2026

Tuscany wine tasting day was quite a relaxing day. We had to walk in the rain a bit to the meeting point bus location but after that, the weather was getting better. I love seeing the endless vineyards stretching to the horizon. At the first winery, Montecchio, the estate uses self-made clay pots to ferment the wine. It is so unique. Each year they produce about 30,000 bottles and only see them directly from the estate. We tried their 4 varieties with cheese, and bread dipped with olive. We picked the nicest bottle to bring along to the castle for friends to try. At the second winery, Casa Emma, we tried their wine varieties and the 6 olive oil varieties. We learned about Chianti wine blending rules.

"The Location Rules (The Boundaries)

You can't just grow grapes anywhere in Tuscany and call it Chianti.

Chianti Classico - is the historic heartland. It is the specific, original zone between Florence and Siena. Wines from this premium zone are easily identified by the famous Gallo Nero (Black Rooster) symbol printed on the neck of the bottle or the label.

Standard Chianti - comes from a much larger, broader territory surrounding that central historic core."

 "The Grape Blend Rules

Chianti is never made from just any grape; it relies heavily on Tuscany’s signature red grape, Sangiovese.

 Standard Chianti DOCG: Must contain at least 70% Sangiovese grapes. The remaining 30% can be local red grapes (like Canaiolo) or international ones (like Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot). It can even include up to 10% white grapes.

 Chianti Classico DOCG: Must contain at least 80% Sangiovese grapes. The remaining 20% can only be red grapes. White grapes are strictly banned here. Some Classico wines are made with 100% Sangiovese."