The Black Rooster - the symbol of Chianti Classico

Gallo Nero

The Gallo Nero is the symbol of an entire region and its wine. But how did it actually come about that a symbol for an entire region emerged from a morning cock crowing and medieval disputes between Florence and Siena?

Today, the borders of the Chianti Classico wine region are clearly defined: they correspond to the area of Chianti, that fantastic landscape between Florence in the north and Siena in the south. These borders date back to the Middle Ages, when troops with their banner bearing the black rooster - the so-called Lega del Chianti - fought in this area. In the Middle Ages, the demarcation of the Chianti borders was a recurring problem. This is even documented by old traditions and legends. One particularly beautiful legend tells of the border disputes between Florence and Siena in the 13th century... 

An unusual equestrian competition

To put an end to the endless disputes for supremacy in Chianti, the two cities of Florence and Siena decided to define their borders by means of a competition between two horsemen: At the first cockcrow at dawn, the riders would each set off from their respective cities. From then on, the border between the two republics would be drawn at the point where they met. Siena chose a white cockerel as the "alarm clock", which had gained a lot of weight due to excessive feeding.

The Florentines, however, opted for a small black rooster, which they fed so scarcely that it began to crow every morning before sunrise, obviously hungry. As it happened, the Florentine rider set off very early, woken by the hungry black cockerel. It was only near the Castello di Fonterutoli, about 12 km before Siena, that he met the rider from Siena. The well-fed white cockerel had only woken his rider up late in the morning.