TOURISM IN THE CHIANTI
A simple pages and pictures
ensemble
to show you some of the unknow resources
of the gorgeous Chianti
General Presentation of Wine
General Presentation of
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented grape juice. Growing grapes
for wine is one of the world's most important farming activities, and the
industry is a major feature of the economy of many wine-producing countries.
Wines may be either red, white, or rose and also dry, medium, or sweet. They
fall into three basic categories: natural, or "table," wines, with an
alcohol content of 8 to 14 percent, generally consumed with meals; sparkling
wines, containing carbon dioxide, of which CHAMPAGNE is archetypal; and
fortified wines, with an alcohol content of 15 to 24 percent, drunk either as an
aperitif or with dessert, depending on their sweetness. The various types
include PORT, SHERRY, and aromatic wines and bitters, such as VERMOUTH.
History
Old World
Cultivation of the vine began several thousand years before Christ and is
mentioned many times in the Old Testament. The ancient Egyptians made wine; the
early Greeks exported it on a considerable scale. During the Roman Empire vine
cultivation was extended to such a degree that a surplus ensued, and in AD 92
the emperor Domitian decreed that half the vines outside Italy be uprooted. When
replanting was later permitted, vineyards extended into northern France and
Germany and even into southern England. The Middle Ages, AD c.400-1200, saw
little progress in viticulture. From about 1200, monasteries kept alive the art
of wine making. Later the nobility also owned extensive vineyards. The French
Revolution and the secularization of the German vineyards by Napoleon, however,
removed many vineyards from ecclesiastical hands. From the beginning of the 13th
century, the wines of Bordeaux (an area under the English crown from 1152 to
1435) were commonly shipped to England, the Hanseatic ports, and the Low
Countries. By the 14th century wines from Spain and Portugal were also widely
exported. Drinking habits were largely governed by changing fashions at court,
political relations with producing countries, and changing rates of excise duty.
During the 18th century heavy duties on French wines and an English alliance
with Portugal led to a sharp rise in English consumption of Portuguese wines.
For convenience in commerce, the Bordeaux merchants classified their finest red
wines as early as 1725, but it was not until 1855 that such a classification,
based on the market price for each wine, received official recognition. The
wines of the Medoc district were divided into five classes, or crus. The 1855
classification stands today with only one recent significant change. During the
middle and second half of the 19th century the European vineyards suffered from
a series of disastrous diseases and pests, particularly mildew, Oidium, and the
plant louse, Phylloxera. First discovered in 1863, Phylloxera spread across
Europe, destroying the vines by attacking their roots. Not until about 1880 was
the grafting of European vine species onto immune American rootstock accepted as
the only viable solution. Selective replanting also led to improved grapes.
Simultaneously, a movement began to ensure the authenticity of wine, culminating
(1936) in France when the appellation controlee (quality control) law, now the
model for similar legislation in other countries, came into effect. The law
allows only wine made from grapes grown in the Champagne region, for example, to
be called "champagne."
New World
European colonists endeavored to produce wine wherever possible and were
particularly successful in Australia, South Africa, South America, and
California. The last is still the most important wine-producing state in the
United States. Its earliest vineyards were planted by Franciscan monks in 1769,
but it was not until the mid-1830s that wine was produced on a commercial scale.
The industry grew until the devastation to the wine market caused by
PROHIBITION. Following repeal in 1933, the California wine industry revived
gradually: in 1934 the California Wine Institute was founded, and following
World War II the University of California became a center for wine research.
Methods of viticulture and enological practices in California are now among the
most advanced in the world. Production is large and increasing, and the finest
California wines are now acknowledged to match many of the long-established
European classics.
MAJOR WINE AREAS
France
French wines lead the world in quality. The area adjacent to the port of
Bordeaux is the home of the widely planted "noble" vine, the Cabernet
Sauvignon, which, with other related varieties, principally Cabernet Franc and
Merlot, produces such famous red wines as the chateaux Lafite-Rothschild, Latour,
Margaux, and Mouton-Rothschild in the Medoc district; Haut-Brion from the
Graves; Cheval-Blanc and Ausone in Saint Emilion; and Petrus in Pomerol. Equally
renowned is Chateau d'Yquem, a luscious white wine produced in Sauternes from
Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grapes. A large number of other chateaux produce a
vast quantity of red and white wine of middle and lesser quality. Burgundy is a
smaller region but produces many famous wines from two related grape varieties:
Pinot Noir for reds and Chardonnay for whites. The best reds come from the Cote
d'Or, a narrow strip of hilly land that follows the course of the Saone River
and extends roughly from Dijon for 60 km (37 mi) south to Chagny, a town 20 km
(12 mi) to the south of Beaune, the municipal heart of the Burgundian wine
trade. The Cote d'Or is traditionally divided between the stronger, heartier red
wines of the Cote de Nuits, such as Gevrey-Chambertin, Chambolle-Musigny,
Vosne-Romanee, and Nuits-Saint-Georges, and the more delicate reds of the Cote
de Beaune, such as Beaune, Pommard, and Volnay. Of equal standing are the dry
white Burgundies: Chablis from the north; and Corton-Charlemagne, the
Montrachets, and the Meursaults from the southern part of the Cote d'Or.
Southern Burgundy has extensive vineyards producing good red wines of lesser
quality: Macon Rouge, Mercurey, and Beaujolais from the Gamay grape, plus dry
whites, including the currently popular and overpriced Pouilly-Fuisse. The
Champagne region in northern France produces indisputably the best sparkling
wine in the world (see CHAMPAGNE). Other good sparkling wines are produced in
the Loire, Burgundy, and Savoie. The Rhone valley produces excellent full-bodied
reds such as Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Cote Rotie, and Hermitage; rare and subtle
whites such as Condrieu and Chateau Grillet; and the most renowned rose, Tavel.
Alsace, in the Rhine valley to the east, produces consistently good quality
white wines named for the grape variety: Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Muscat,
Sylvaner, and others. The Loire valley, in west central France, produces
excellent, light, and refreshing white wines such as Sancerre and Muscadet; the
well-known rose d'Anjou; and the minor reds Chinon and Bourgeuil. The Midi and
Provence regions in the south of France produce a great deal of ordinary wine,
as well as some aperitif and dessert wines and popular roses.
Germany
Mainly light, fruity white wines are made in Germany. The finest of these are
made of the Riesling grape from three districts on the banks of the Rhine: from
the Rheingau, Rheinhesse, and Rheinpfalz; from the Nahe Valley; and from the
Mosel/Saar/Ruwer valleys. The alcoholic content of German wine is low, about 9
percent, and the wines vary from dry to extremely sweet. The Germans tend to
enjoy their wines drunk alone rather than with food. German wine laws, revised
in 1971, are complicated: wines are classified according to must weight (the
sugar content of the grape juice) and labeled by town of origin, vineyard,
vintage, grape variety, and quality. Quality designations in ascending order of
sweetness and price are Kabinett, Spatlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese, and
Trockenbeerenauslese.
Spain
From southern Spain comes SHERRY, the most versatile and classic fortified wine.
Sherry ranges from the dry manzanilla and fino through the medium-dry
amontillado to the sweet oloroso and "cream" styles. Sherry is
blended, may be sweetened, and is usually fortified with brandy. In northeast
Spain, on the banks of the Ebro River, is the Rioja, now acknowledged as the
country's leading table-wine area, producing excellent, long-lived reds and dry
whites. Farther east, near Barcelona, the Torres family of Panades produces
high-quality Catalonian table wine.
Portugal
Portuguese wines vary from such popular light, slightly sparkling pink wines as
Mateus and Lancers to the most renowned of all fortified dessert wines, PORT.
The best reds come from the north central Dao region, which also produces some
whites. In the far north of Portugal the light, acidic vinho verde ("green
wine") is made. Madeira is made on and called after the Portuguese-owned
island in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Morocco. Along with sherry and
port, Madeira is one of the oldest classic dessert wines. It is known by the
four principal grape varieties used to make it. These are, in ascending order of
sweetness and richness, Sercial, Verdelho, Bual, and Malmsey.
Italy
Italy shares honors with France as the world's most prolific wine producer. The
best-known Italian wines are from the north; Barolo, the sparkling Asti Spumante,
and the wines used in making VERMOUTH from Piedmont; Chianti from Tuscany;
Soave, Valpolicella, and Bardolino from Veneto; and the sweetish red Lambrusco,
from central Italy. Grape varieties are numerous and include indigenous grapes,
such as the Nebbiolo from Piedmont. A wine law passed in 1963 defined more than
200 wines of high quality. The quality seal is Denominazione d'Origine
Controllata, or DOC.
South America
Argentina, a major wine producer, and Chile have both exported large quantities
of inexpensive wine for many years. In response to an increasingly knowledgeable
U.S. market, however, they now export some of their better wines, made chiefly
from European varietals.
Africa
Algeria, once a colony of France, is a major wine producer. The South African
wine industry dates from the mid-1600s, and Cape wines were fashionable for
nearly 100 years, from about 1750. The area is now known for its sherry.
Australia
Vines were first planted in Australia by English settlers, and the industry grew
rapidly in the second half of the 19th century. Australia is now one of the most
wine-conscious countries in the world, producing and consuming wine of every
style and quality.
United States
Beginning in the 1950s the local reputation of the few fine wines made in
California started to spread throughout the country. In the 1970s and '80s,
demand for these wines expanded so rapidly that the number of premium wineries
grew from fewer than ten to more than 600 by the mid-1980s. Nine-tenths of the
U.S. vineyards are in California, where an ideal grape-growing climate and the
support of wealthy and knowledgeable amateurs have encouraged growers and wine
makers to strive for the highest standards. As a result California produces a
large quantity of good commercial wines and some of very high quality. Although
wine is made in no fewer than 34 states, only California wines can be said to
rival those of France. French wines are usually named by the region, town, or
vineyard where they are produced, and, occasionally, by a generic name
(Beaujolais). California wines, on the other hand, are often named for the
principal grape variety used in making the wine. The finest California red wines
are made from the Cabernet Sauvignon grape. Others include the Pinot Noir,
Grenache (a rose grape), Zinfandel, and Petite Sirah. Fine whites are led by the
Chardonnay, by Pinot Blanc, and by some late-harvested Rieslings. Wines from the
Chenin Blanc and Semillon grapes are not in the same class. The finest wines are
made in the Napa and Sonoma valleys north of San Francisco, in nearby Sonoma and
Mendocino counties, and in an expanding grape-growing area to the south of San
Francisco Bay as far as Monterey. Mass-produced table and dessert wines come
mainly from the Central Valley. Every size and class of producer is found in
California, from small, family-owned premium wineries to huge enterprises making
inexpensive "jugs" through high-priced vintage wines. (Viticulture is
also increasing in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, which produce their own
characteristic wines.) Unfortunately, a new strain of Phylloxera has attacked
the rootstocks of some of the vines that had previously been thought resistant.
Making its appearance in 1979, it has gradually infested vineyards throughout
the region but primarily in the premium wine-producing areas of Sonoma and Napa
counties. As in the late 19th century, the cure remains in finding resistant
rootstocks to replace the vulnerable types or in eliminating the production of
wines made from particularly hard-stricken grapes, such as the Chenin Blanc
varietal. The second most important U.S. wine-producing area is New York State,
particularly the Finger Lakes region, south of Lake Ontario. Large and small
growers battle high heat in the growing season and extreme cold in the winter to
produce a large quantity of wines of varying quality.
WINE MAKING
The quality and quantity of grapes depend on geographical, geological, and climatic conditions in the vineyards, and on the grape variety and methods of cultivation. Some of these factors may be governed by local laws.
Harvesting
The crop is harvested in the autumn when the grapes contain the optimum balance of sugar and acidity. For the sweet white wines of Bordeaux and Germany, picking is delayed until the grapes are affected by a beneficial mold, Botrytis cinerea, which concentrates the juice by dehydration.
Vinification
For red wine, the grapes are crushed immediately after picking and the stems generally removed. The yeasts present on the skins come into contact with the grape sugars, and fermentation begins naturally. Cultured yeasts, however, are sometimes added. During fermentation the sugars are converted by the yeasts to ethyl alcohol and carbon dioxide. The alcohol extracts color from the skins; the longer the vatting period, the deeper the color. Glycerol and some of the esters, aldehydes, and acids that contribute to the character, bouquet, and taste of the wine are by-products of fermentation. Traditional maturation of red wine, as practiced, for instance, in Bordeaux, then takes up to two years in 50-gallon oak casks, during which time the wine is racked--drawn off its lees, or sediment--three or four times into fresh casks to avoid bacterial spoilage. Further aging is usually advisable after bottling.
The juice of most grape varieties is colorless. Grapes for white wine are also pressed immediately after picking, and the must starts to ferment. Fermentation can proceed until it is completed, which will make a dry white wine; or it can be stopped to make a sweeter wine. Maturation of white Burgundy and some California Chardonnays still takes place in oak casks, but vintners tend now to use large tanks of such modern materials as stainless steel. Minimum contact with the air retains the freshness of the grapes.
To make rose wines, the fermenting grape juice is left in contact with the skins just long enough for the alcohol to extract the required degree of color. Vinification then proceeds as for white wine.
The best and most expensive sparkling wines are made by the champagne method, in which cultured yeasts and sugar are added to the base wine, inducing a second fermentation in the bottle. The resulting carbon dioxide is retained in the wine. Other methods, such as carbonation, are also practiced.
The alcohol content of fortified wines is raised by adding grape spirits. With port and madeira, brandy added during fermentation kills off the yeasts, stopping fermentation, and leaves the desired degree of natural grape sugar in the wine. Sherry is made by adding spirit to the fully fermented wine. Its color, strength, and sweetness are then adjusted to the required style before bottling.
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL VALUE OF WINE
Like other commodities, wine is subject to the laws of supply and demand. Wine is an agricultural product, and the time between planting new acreage and mature grape production is relatively long. Since the end of World War II the demand for table wine in the West has increased steadily. Also during this period the classic fine wines of Europe, with their traditional and limited production methods, have increased considerably in price. At the same time newer regions, including California, have increased and improved production to provide the consumer with everyday drinking wines. The great increase in wine consumption in the United States and elsewhere has by no means saturated production capacity; indeed, there is almost a permanent world overproduction of wine. The price of fine wines will likely increase still further under the impetus of the demand for them both for drinking and for investment buying. In the long term the price of fine and everyday wines will be affected by the performance of the economy of the West and the consequent affluence of the average consumer, and by inflation.
Bottle Storage
Wine bottles should be laid on their side to prevent the corks from drying out and the air getting at the wine. There should be no great fluctuation in temperature: 13-16 degrees C (55-60 degrees F) for reds, 10-13 degrees C (50-55 degrees F) for whites being ideal. Humidity should be 70 to 80 percent, and the storage place should be free from drafts, light, and vibration.
Serving
Red wine should be served at room temperature, 18-22 degrees C (65-72 degrees F). White and rose wines should be at refrigerator temperature, 6-10 degrees C (43-50 degrees F). Only wines that have thrown a sediment in the bottle, such as vintage port, red Bordeaux, and red Burgundy, need be decanted before drinking.
Previous Page of Wine
Let's cut a
track: (Where do
you want to go)
Start point (To the first page-Index)
Introduction (To the Introduction)
Who am I (Presentation)
The Chianti Region (Secret and famous treasure)
Excursions (My excursions on the land)
Accomodations (Where you can stay)