Sangiovese - The red ruler among Italy's grape varieties
Sangiovese grape on the vine
The Sangiovese grape variety is one of the most frequently cultivated grape varieties in Italy and means something like "Jupiter's blood". And there are many synonyms such as Sangioveto, Sangiovese Grosso, Brunello, Prugnolo Gentile, Montepulciano, Morellino and many more.
The red wines made from this indigenous Italian grape variety are usually ruby red in color, with a pronounced acidity and tannin structure. The Sangiovese grape forms the basis for many of Tuscany's famous red wines: Chianti Classico, Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and many more. According to the production regulations of Italy's oldest appellation, a Chianti Classico must contain at least 80% Sangiovese. After all, it is not least the typical characteristics of Sangiovese that make up the character of Chianti Classico.
"Chianti 2000"
Natural development has not stopped at the Sangiovese grape either, and a wide variety of clones have developed over the centuries. As part of the "Chianti 2000" project, which was launched by the "Consorzio Chianti Classico", the best clones were sought, selected and further developed. A major step towards improving quality. The Sangiovese grape is always strongly influenced by its environment, climate and terroir. And because these factors naturally vary from valley to valley, from vineyard to vineyard, numerous different Sangiovese wines with the most diverse typicities are produced. In addition, this red wine variety is not easy to handle. It takes a lot of experience and finesse to give this wine with its strong character the perfect finish. To create a Sangiovese diamond from the Sangiovese rough diamond, so to speak. But if this succeeds, then nothing stands in the way of the highest, polished pleasures.
A declaration of love to the Sangiovese vine by Andreas März
"...The heart of Tuscany is Sangiovese ... Sangiovese can do everything. Sangiovese adapts to the winemaker, and that is the genius of Sangiovese, and above all expresses the terroir on which it stands. It expresses the ambition for quality, it expresses the soil, climate and microclimate. Sangiovese can produce banal wines, Sangiovese can produce great wines. A Sangiovese, a Chianti Classico from Monti in Chianti, from Gaiole, from high vineyards, from Panzano - these are great wines, these are unique wines, with a fruit that even a noble, so-called "noble" Cabernet Sauvignon cannot achieve. These are fine aromas of red berries, red forest berries, with perhaps a high acidity, but that is part of it. Perhaps with a touch of bitchiness, with an incisive tannin. A top Sangiovese from Chianti, these are not fireside wines that you swirl in a large glass in the living room in the evening and drink, these are wines for food, they are genetically made to accompany food."
Andreas März, editor of the magazine Merum, quote from Tonkombinat - Texte + Tannine, Toskana - eine Weinlesereise.