In the second episode of “Chianti Classico Diaries” we visited the northern commune of San Casciano in Val di Pesa. This commune is only 15 kilometers south of Florence, making it the closest one to the famous Tuscan city. San Casciano sits at a medium altitude –compared to other communes-- of about 400 meters.
In this second episode, we first visited the Antinori owned Tignanello Estate, where the legendary Tignanello and Solaia wines are made. The Antinori family has been making wine in Tuscany since 1385 and today it is one of the biggest wine companies in Italy. But at Tignanello they also produce one Chianti Classico under the label Marchesi Antinori and at the nearby estate Badia di Passignano they also produce another one under the same name.
For Renzo Cotarella, chief winemaker of all Marchesi Antinori estates, the question of creating sub appellations within Chianti Classico would as he describes it; “an asset”. But only if the name Chianti Classico name was to be maintained as part of the denomination.
In the second part of the episode, Prince Duccio Corsini, owner and winemaker at Principe Corsini, spoke about the history of Chianti Classico and the historic meaning of the requirements demanded today to make a Chianti Classico. Prince Duccio’s family has been producing wine in Chianti Classico for nearly 500 years. Watch the episode and find out how these two top producers see the future of Chianti Classico.
-JMS
This video was first posted on September 26th, 2013.
