Chianti

Chianti in Tuscany is Italy’s most famous wine region, making mainly reds from the Sangiovese grape. With a climate similar to Bordeaux it was natural Tuscany became a table-red producer to the world. But these days ‘Chianti’ is unlikely to mean a rustic basket wine (fiaschi) and probably refers to a respectable and classic Italian red - dry with medium-body, bright spicy fruit and Sangiovese’s lovely acidity. Superb top wines and Riservas often come from Chianti Classico - the traditional heart of Chianti - with seven other notable villages like Rufina that add their local name to the label (‘Chianti Rufina’). But even bare Chianti labels from a good source can be delicious and versatile accompaniments to food.