Chianti DOCG

Region: Toscana

Synopsis

Region:

Toscana,

History: Established as a DOC in 1967; became a DOCG in 1984; subzone Chianti Classico became a separate DOCG in 1996; new subzone Terre di Vinci created in 2026

Vineyard Area: 13,716 ha / 33,879 acres (2021)

Production: 722,400 hl / 8,025,500 cases (5-year average)

Principal Red Grape Varieties:

Sangiovese

Styles and Wine Composition

ROSATO WINES

Rosato (Ro): Minimum 60% Sangiovese; maximum 40% Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Canaiolo, Chardonnay, Ciliegiolo, Colorino, Malvasia Bianca Lunga, Merlot, Montepulciano, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Trebbiano Toscano, Vermentino, and/or Vernaccia di San Gimignano

RED WINES

Rosso (Rd): Minimum 60% Sangiovese; maximum 40% OARG (maximum 15% Cabernet Franc and/or Cabernet Sauvignon); maximum 10% OAWG
Rosso from subzone Colli Senesi only (Rd): Minimum 75% Sangiovese; maximum 25% OARG (maximum 10% Cabernet Franc and/or Cabernet Sauvignon)
Superiore (Rosso)
Riserva (Rosso)
TerraElectae (proprietary designation used in subzone Rufina only—see note below)

Subzones and Other Geographic Terms

Colli Aretini
Colli Fiorentini
Colline Pisane
Colli Senesi
Montalbano
Montespertoli
Rufina
Terre di Vinci

Note: Chianti Classico is a separate DOCG and not a subzone of the Chianti DOCG.

Significant Production Rules

The traditional Governo process of enriching the wine by allowing it to finish fermenting in contact with unfermented dried grapes is still permitted for red Chianti, but not for the rosé.
Minimum alcohol level: 11.5% for Rosé and non-subzone Rosso; 12.0% for Rosso from a subzone; 12.5% for Superiore and Riserva
Aging: For Rosé, minimum approx. 1 month (ERD = December 1, V); for most Rosso, minimum approx. 4 months (ERD = March 1, V+1); for Rosso from Colli Fiorentini or Montespertoli, minimum approx. 7 months (ERD = June 1, V+1); for Rosso from Rufina and Terre di Vinci and for Superiore, minimum approx. 10 months (ERD = September 1, V+1); for Riserva, minimum 2 years (ERD = January 1, V+3)

Last Disciplinare Modification:

06/05/2026

Notes:

Note: The Chianti Rufina consorzio has created the proprietary designation TerraElectae or TerrÆlectae (from the Latin terræ electæ, “chosen soils”), which is usable only by consorzio members for Riserva-level wines made from 100% Sangiovese grown in the Rufina subzone. Among the requirements for the term’s use, the wine must be aged for a minimum of 30 months, including 18 months in barrel and 6 months in bottle. The term is not an official part of the DOCG’s disciplinare.