 The ratified measures include introduction of new rules governing production, bulk wine and redesigning the distinctive black rooster logo on the bottled seal. The changes were proposed to the assembly after more than two years' work by the consortium's board of directors and outside experts and were approved last month by the General Assembly attended by a record number of members.
Sergio Zingarelli who replaces Marco Pallanti, co-owner of Chianti Classico’s star winery Castello di Ama, said, "it will most certainly require a great deal of commitment on my part. I am honored and proud to be taking on this challenge, since I have always felt a deep sense of attachment to this land and I believe very strongly in the enormous potential of the denomination, of the symbol and, indeed, of Chianti Classico wine.” He has been involved since 1984 in the business started by his father Italo Zingarelli, a producer, actor and director from Rome, who had bought the Rocca property in Castellina in Chianti in 1973. The family has been adding to the property and today owns 200 hA of land.
As the outgoing Chairman Pallanti enumerated, the overhaul veered by his Board towards greater quality, included the new top level to the denomination- a wine which can be sold only after 30 months of harvesting and will be only from grapes grown within the owner’s estate. There will be more restrictions even on the current level Riserva which accounts for 30% of the amount produced (valued at 40% of total value); winemakers must declare the vintage and category when applying for certification. The famous Black Rooster - the neckband trademark that has represented the denomination since 2005 will be redesigned, and will move from the governmental seal to the neck of the bottle. Even bulk wine will now have to be certified before being marketed.
The Chianti Classico Consortium is one of the most prestigious promotion and protection body in the Italian wine industry, and has contributed greatly towards boosting and consolidating the image not only of Chianti Classico and of the Black Rooster symbol but also of the Italian winemaking industry as a whole. However, it has been going through a critical phase since the consumers are not well aware of the quality difference at various levels including the difference with Chianti DOCG which is perhaps one of the most depreciated labels in Italian wine industry with many cheap labels finding place at the lowest levels of quality but with the highest certification as applicable in Italy.
 The appointment of Sergio Zingarelli, is thus at a crucial juncture for the Chianti Classico Consorzio (Consortium). In fact, the next three years will be extremely important for the implementation of the ambitious projects and strategies that the Board of Directors has decided upon and that are intended to lead the denomination to an even higher level of excellence.
Zingarelli is not new to the working of the Consortium. He has been a member of the Executive Board since 1995 and a Vice President since 2009. |