Chianti DOCG Wines for Roadshow in the US

Two seminars have been planned-one in Chicago on 23 October and another in San Francisco  on 25 October, at Simply Italian Great Wines US event. Consorzio Vino Chianti, in its 19th anniversary, will be focusing on Brand Chianti docg and the role of this Consorzio (Association) to protect the brand against falsification and non-conformity, and also its presence guaranteeing its origin. Chianti docg is an approved GI by the EU.

Tasting of seven 2013 Chianti Riserva wines, each specifically originating from one of the seven Chianti D.O.C.G. subzones, will be the hallmark of the Seminar in Chicago.  This will be a comparative tasting which aims to enhance the oenological wealth of this broadly diversified area with complex and varied expressions.

The 7 sub-regions represented are “Colli Aretini”, “Colli Fiorentini”, “Colli Senesi”, “Colline Pisane”, “Montalbano”, “Rufina” and “Montespertoli” and may be added to the term Chianti on the bottle. There is also of course “Superiore”.  Chianti obtained its DOCG status in 1984. Two separate sets of regulations for Chianti and Chianti Classico were published in 1996. For Chianti, the wines must contain a minimum of 70% Sangiovese. Chianti may not be made within the controlled and defined area of Chianti Classico.

Italian wine producers are very individualist and non-conformists who do not believe in the team spirit that producers from the New World countries like the US and Australia show, resulting in a a loss of competitiveness. This has been worrying for the Italian wine exports which are currently undergoing lower growths than the competing French wines. During the first 8 months of 2017, imports in the important U.S market rose by 7.5%, at a much higher level than the 2.3% growth of Italian wines whereas the directly competing French wines sky-rocketed with a 17.9% growth.

Talking on the subject Giovanni Busi, Chairman of Consorzio Vino Chianti says, “Italy has to learn to build a network, presenting its products differently because it’s obvious that we are paying for individualism and risk losing our competitiveness.  We cannot let ourselves continue losing ground in relation to our direct competitors, who are currently taking advantage of our inability to work together and present ourselves united on markets capable of meeting our needs and acknowledging the value of our product. The figures recorded in 2017 relating to exports to the US require us to reflect at a national level, involving the Ministry and all the organisations that represent the sector.”

Chairman Busi exhorted the producers to come together, saying "We have to react by abandoning individualism and learning to work as part of a network."

Busy was also critical of the Italian bureaucracy which he said, likes to delay decision making and release the funds that are already approved and they are supposed to release.  He says, “at national level we are paying for the severe delays in the CMO Vino, the financing and contributions made available to winegrowers and issued through tenders by the Ministry for Agricultural Policies. This is an essential tool for the whole sector, but the ongoing delays are preventing us from promptly assessing the possibility of pursuing a certain type of promotional activity, particularly detrimental to the small and medium Italian enterprises.’

Critical of the bureaucracy which is far removed from the world of business, he added, ‘it’s hard to imagine re-launching our product in the world if the first obstacle is the Italian bureaucratic system, which is often insurmountable and so far removed from the realty faced by so many businesses which are consequently thrust into further difficulties in activating virtuous synergistic processes’.

Busi also expressed solidarity with California’s winegrowers on behalf of Consorzio Vino Chianti and said, “We are close to the farmers in the Sonoma and Napa counties in North California, who have to cope with the devastation of the dreadful fires that have sent vineyards and cellars up in smoke”.

Bergamo Declaration

Busi was complimentary to the work done that led to Bergamo Declaration on October 11, 2017. ‘Congratulations go to the work that has led to the Bergamo Declaration, an agreement requested by the world representatives of the Geographic Indications during the G7 of the ministries of agriculture held last weekend. The matters highlighted by the Bergamo Declaration include the strengthening of protection of producers and consumers against falsification, as well as international cooperation, sustainability and web transparency. A system of controls is essential to allow products with Geographic Indication to constantly increase their value as elements of economic and social development in every single area of the world,’ he said

Incidentally, the US campaign is a part of the annual calendar of activities undertaken by the Consorzio Vino Chianti.  Chianti Lovers is the name given to another annual campaign- part of the massive tasting of Chianti in Florence for the Press and other invited wine professionals and which has become a part of the annual Tuscan Tasting Marathon. Usually held on the second day of the week, it was organised in the Fortezza da Basso in February 2017 where the 2016 vintage and the 2014 Riserva were on show. Chianti production lies in the provinces of Arezzo, Firenze, Pisa, Pistoia and Siena.

Wine professionals who are the subscribers to delWine in the larger Chicago and San Francisco area (including Napa and Sonoma) may like to attend the event, details of which can be obtained by clicking the respective buttons at the end of this Article.

Subhash Arora

Chicago Tasting (Oct 23)              San Francisco Tasting (Oct 25)             Bergamo Declaration (Oct 11)

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