Wine Tasting

A Chianti wine is any wine produced in the Chianti region of central Tuscany. It was historically associated with a squat bottle enclosed in a straw basket, called a fiasco . However, the fiasco is only used by a few makers of the wine as most Chianti is now bottled in more standard shaped wine bottles. In the mid-late 19th century, Baron Bettino Ricasoli (later Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Italy) helped establish Sangiovese as the blend’s dominant grape variety, creating the blueprint for today’s Chianti wines. The first definition of a wine area called Chianti was made in 1716. It described the area near the villages of Gaiole, Castellina and Radda; the so-called Lega del Chianti and later Provincia del Chianti (Chianti province). In 1932 the Chianti area was completely redrawn and divided into seven sub-areas: Classico, Colli Aretini, Colli Fiorentini, Colline Pisane, Colli Senesi, Montalbano and Rùfina. Most of the villages that in 1932 were added to the newly defined Chianti Classico region added in Chianti to their names, for example Greve in Chianti, which amended its name in 1972. Wines labelled Chianti Classico come from the largest sub-area of Chianti, which includes the original Chianti heartland. Only Chianti from this sub-zone may display the black rooster (gallo nero) seal on the neck of the bottle, which indicates that the producer of the wine is a member of the Chianti Classico Consortium, the local association of producers. Other variants, with the exception of Rufina north-east of Florence and Montalbano south of Pistoia, originate in the named provinces: Siena for the Colli Senesi, Florence for the Colli Fiorentini, Arezzo for the Colli Aretini and Pisa for the Colline Pisane. In 1996 part of the Colli Fiorentini sub-area was renamed Montespertoli.

During the 1970s producers started to reduce the quantity of white grapes in Chianti. In 1995 it became legal to produce a Chianti with 100% Sangiovese. For a wine to retain the name of Chianti it must be produced with at least 80% Sangiovese grapes. Aged Chianti (38 months instead of 4–7) may be labelled as Riserva. Chianti that meets more stringent requirements (lower yield, higher alcohol content and dry extract) may be labelled as Chianti Superiore, although Chianti from the Classico sub-area is not allowed in any event to be labelled as Superiore.

P.N.: all services provided are customizable according your needs.  The pick up and drop off time can be change according the arrival and departure time of the ship.

• Meeting Point at La Spezia Port: Customers will be met by a Tuscany Taste Tour’s representative holding up a sign with the customer’s name.  Take the free shuttle bus you will find under the ship to the waiting area for private car service located outside the port.
• Our drivers are NOT OFFICIAL LICENCE GUIDES and they can give you commentaries of the sites seen from inside the vehicle. We are professional speaking drivers but are not allowed, by an agreement with Labour Union, to enter museums, churches and other monuments.
• Dresses: Please dress respectfully for visiting religious monuments, local custom requires cover knees and shoulder. Comfortable walking shoes recommended.
• Wheel Chair Accessible : Our Mercedes Van has room for wheel chair or scooter , but our Van are NOT equipped by ramp to enter inside the van by wheel chair.
• The vehicle will escort you for the entire service. Walking is limited unlike bus tour where you have to walk the whole day.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

• 9  a.m. Pick up from La Spezia port;
• Departure to Chianti Region passing trough the beauties of ours tuscan countryside for a stopping at the local winery in Montespertoli;
• Departure to Greve in Chianti passing by  the famous “Chiantigiana road ” (222);
• Strolling in Greve in Chianti ( Piazza Matteotti… here you might have a linght lunch at the local butcher shop famous all over in the world!!);
• Departure to La Spezia, passing by Montefioralle, Panzano and Badia a Passignano;
• 5. 15 p.m Drop off at the ship;