This fertile land was first settled by the Etruscans over 2500 years ago.

On our tour we will be learning specifically about the Chianti Classico wines. These historical wines are often confused with the well known regular Chianti wines.  The defined region for the Chianti Classico wines runs from the mountainous area around Florence all the way to the south of Siena.

Early in 20th century the Tuscany region began to flourish and expand. Following the Second World War, the European thirst for cheap, easy-drinking wine was satiated at least partly by Chianti. The bad news was, this led to overcropping, the potential for less-than official grape blends and balances and, overall, a decline in quality and respect for the wine. In 1924 there was a meeting  of 33 wine producers in the Chiantishire town of Radda in Chianti. Their purpose was to establish the rules for the production of the Chianti Classico wines as their own separate denomination.

Today, Chianti is famously appreciated as one of the finest the world has to offer. It is fastidiously regulated and, on our tour, you’ll discover more about the meanings of both Denominazione di Origine Controllata (D.O.C.) and Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (D.O.C.G.).