ITALY is the biggest producer of wine in the world with 54 million hectolitres. France is second with 52 million. Among the rest: Spain 30m, America 20m, Australia 7m. In case you were wondering, Italy’s output adds up to more than 7 billion bottles (or 43 billion glasses).
THE GREAT CHIANTI RIVER ...
Chianti production is more than 26 million gallons (give or take the odd glass). It’s Italy’s largest wine-producing district and takes in more than 100 towns and six provinces. Around six million gallons of it reach the market as Chianti Classico.
THE DENOMINATION HIERARCHY
At the bottom Vino da Tavola, common or garden table wines. Next, IGT (Indicazione di Geografica Tipica) - good examples from specified areas. DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata): more than 300, all with specific controls on grapes, production and quality. DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita): Top level, 21 of them.
HOW SMALL ...
After the massive 26 million gallons of Chianti, it is almost a relief to find the smallest of the DOCG zones, Ghemme, produces just 45,000 gallons.
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MORE ABOUT CHIANTI ...
The name actually refers to a group of high hills between Siena and Florence.
HITTING THE HIGH SPOTS
There are vineyards on the slopes of Mount Etna, but, strangely, they are not as high as Montalcino, home of Tuscany’s great Brunello. It’s perched magnificently on a hilltop 1,850ft high. On the drive up, best not to look down ...
VINES WITH A VIEW
Italy is particularly suited to producing wine ... with the Alps across the top of the country and mountains more or less from top to bottom down the centre, around 80 per cent of the land mass is hill or mountain, ideal for vines.
ITALY’S GRAND CRU
Sassicaia is Italy’s greatest answer to the concept of a Grand Cru wine. From the Tenuta San Guido in Bolgheri near the Tuscan coast, it is 85 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon, 15 per cent Cabernet Franc. Around 150,000 bottles a year are produced (compare it with Chateau Latour’s production of 220,000 bottles). And the price: at auction in New York six bottles of the 1985 went for $5,175.
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