Chianti

What is made here

Wine colours

The only colour the rules allow.

Where it is

Chianti in Italy

Latitude: 42.8°–44.1° N
Vineyard altitude: 61 m to 437 m
Production zone: 740,500 ha

Covers the same area as
Colli dell'Etruria Centrale, Vin Santo del Chianti

Contains 18 appellations (outlined on the zone map)
Barco Reale di Carmignano, Brunello di Montalcino, Carmignano, Grance Senesi, Moscadello di Montalcino, Pomino, Rosso di Montalcino, Rosso di Montepulciano, San Gimignano, San Torpè, Sant'Antimo, Terre di Casole, Terre di Pisa, Val d'Arno di Sopra, Vernaccia di San Gimignano, Vin Santo di Carmignano, Vin Santo di Montepulciano, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

Worked out from the boundaries (smallest container first). They follow whole communes, so a neighbour sharing a commune can show up here too.

Boundary drawn from whole communes, so it is a little larger than the legal zone. Boundary: Eurac Research PDO inventory (CC0). Country outlines: Natural Earth. Dots on the zone map are the vineyard points used for climate.

01 · What the law says

The rules

Limits on grapes, yields, ripeness and ageing that every wine labelled Chianti must meet.

17 wines in the rules.
Wine	Main grape(s)	Max yield t/ha	Max wine hl/ha	Wine from grapes max. %	Grape ripeness min. % pot. alc.	Wine min. % alc.	Acidity min. g/l	Dry extract min. g/l	Ageing min. months	In wood min. months	In bottle min. months
Chianti	70% Sangiovese	11	77	70	10.5	11.5	4.5	20	–	–	–
Chianti Riserva	70% Sangiovese	11	77	70	10.5	12	4.5	22	24	–	–
Chianti Superiore	70% Sangiovese	9.5	67	70	11.5	12	4.5	22	–	–	–
Chianti Colli Aretini	70% Sangiovese	9.5	67	70	11	11.5	4.5	21	–	–	–
Chianti Colli Aretini Riserva	70% Sangiovese	9.5	67	70	11	12.5	4.5	22	24	–	–
Chianti Colli Fiorentini	70% Sangiovese	9	63	70	11	12	4.5	21	–	–	–
Chianti Colli Fiorentini Riserva	70% Sangiovese	9	63	70	11	12.5	4.5	22	24	6	–
Chianti Colli Senesi	75% Sangiovese	9	63	70	11.5	12	4.5	21	–	–	–
Chianti Colli Senesi Riserva	75% Sangiovese	9	63	70	12.5	13	4.5	23	24	8	4
Chianti Colline Pisane	70% Sangiovese	9.5	67	70	11	11.5	4.5	21	–	–	–
Chianti Colline Pisane Riserva	70% Sangiovese	9.5	67	70	11	12.5	4.5	22	24	–	–
Chianti Montalbano	70% Sangiovese	9.5	67	70	11	11.5	4.5	21	–	–	–
Chianti Montalbano Riserva	70% Sangiovese	9.5	67	70	11	12.5	4.5	22	24	–	–
Chianti Montespertoli	70% Sangiovese	9.5	67	70	11	12	4.5	21	–	–	–
Chianti Montespertoli Riserva	70% Sangiovese	9.5	67	70	11	12.5	4.5	22	24	–	–
Chianti Rufina	70% Sangiovese	9.5	67	70	11.5	12	4.5	21	–	–	–
Chianti Rufina Riserva	70% Sangiovese	9.5	67	70	11.5	12.5	4.5	23	24	6	–

From the official production rules (disciplinare di produzione). Hover a figure to see the clause it comes from. A dash means the rules set no figure, or it is not captured yet.

Blend rules

70–100% Sangiovese · Main grape
– other varieties authorised in Tuscany · Others allowed
≤ 10% white varieties · Allowed
≤ 15% Cabernet Franc / Cabernet Sauvignon · Allowed

; release from 1 March of the year after the harvest.

Blend rules

Chianti Riserva

70–100% Sangiovese · Main grape
– other varieties authorised in Tuscany · Others allowed
≤ 10% white varieties · Allowed
≤ 15% Cabernet Franc / Cabernet Sauvignon · Allowed

At least 24 months' ageing.

Blend rules

Chianti Superiore

70–100% Sangiovese · Main grape
– other varieties authorised in Tuscany · Others allowed
≤ 10% white varieties · Allowed
≤ 15% Cabernet Franc / Cabernet Sauvignon · Allowed

; release from 1 September of the year after the harvest.

Blend rules

Chianti Colli Aretini

70–100% Sangiovese · Main grape
– other varieties authorised in Tuscany · Others allowed
≤ 10% white varieties · Allowed
≤ 15% Cabernet Franc / Cabernet Sauvignon · Allowed

; release from 1 March of the year after the harvest.

Blend rules

Chianti Colli Aretini Riserva

70–100% Sangiovese · Main grape
– other varieties authorised in Tuscany · Others allowed
≤ 10% white varieties · Allowed
≤ 15% Cabernet Franc / Cabernet Sauvignon · Allowed

At least 24 months' ageing.

Blend rules

Chianti Colli Fiorentini

70–100% Sangiovese · Main grape
– other varieties authorised in Tuscany · Others allowed
≤ 10% white varieties · Allowed
≤ 15% Cabernet Franc / Cabernet Sauvignon · Allowed

; release from 1 September of the year after the harvest.

Blend rules

Chianti Colli Fiorentini Riserva

70–100% Sangiovese · Main grape
– other varieties authorised in Tuscany · Others allowed
≤ 10% white varieties · Allowed
≤ 15% Cabernet Franc / Cabernet Sauvignon · Allowed

At least 24 months' ageing.

Blend rules

Chianti Colli Senesi

75–100% Sangiovese · Main grape
≤ 25% other varieties authorised in Tuscany · Others allowed
≤ 10% Cabernet Franc / Cabernet Sauvignon · Allowed
≤ 10% white varieties · Allowed

; release from 1 March of the year after the harvest.

Blend rules

Chianti Colli Senesi Riserva

75–100% Sangiovese · Main grape
≤ 25% other varieties authorised in Tuscany · Others allowed
≤ 10% Cabernet Franc / Cabernet Sauvignon · Allowed
≤ 10% white varieties · Allowed

At least 24 months' ageing.

Blend rules

Chianti Colline Pisane

70–100% Sangiovese · Main grape
– other varieties authorised in Tuscany · Others allowed
≤ 10% white varieties · Allowed
≤ 15% Cabernet Franc / Cabernet Sauvignon · Allowed

; release from 1 March of the year after the harvest.

Blend rules

Chianti Colline Pisane Riserva

70–100% Sangiovese · Main grape
– other varieties authorised in Tuscany · Others allowed
≤ 10% white varieties · Allowed
≤ 15% Cabernet Franc / Cabernet Sauvignon · Allowed

At least 24 months' ageing.

Blend rules

Chianti Montalbano

70–100% Sangiovese · Main grape
– other varieties authorised in Tuscany · Others allowed
≤ 10% white varieties · Allowed
≤ 15% Cabernet Franc / Cabernet Sauvignon · Allowed

; release from 1 March of the year after the harvest.

Blend rules

Chianti Montalbano Riserva

70–100% Sangiovese · Main grape
– other varieties authorised in Tuscany · Others allowed
≤ 10% white varieties · Allowed
≤ 15% Cabernet Franc / Cabernet Sauvignon · Allowed

At least 24 months' ageing.

Blend rules

Chianti Montespertoli

70–100% Sangiovese · Main grape
– other varieties authorised in Tuscany · Others allowed
≤ 10% white varieties · Allowed
≤ 15% Cabernet Franc / Cabernet Sauvignon · Allowed

; release from 1 June of the year after the harvest.

Blend rules

Chianti Montespertoli Riserva

70–100% Sangiovese · Main grape
– other varieties authorised in Tuscany · Others allowed
≤ 10% white varieties · Allowed
≤ 15% Cabernet Franc / Cabernet Sauvignon · Allowed

At least 24 months' ageing.

Blend rules

Chianti Rufina

70–100% Sangiovese · Main grape
– other varieties authorised in Tuscany · Others allowed
≤ 10% white varieties · Allowed
≤ 15% Cabernet Franc / Cabernet Sauvignon · Allowed

; release from 1 September of the year after the harvest.

Blend rules

Chianti Rufina Riserva

70–100% Sangiovese · Main grape
– other varieties authorised in Tuscany · Others allowed
≤ 10% white varieties · Allowed
≤ 15% Cabernet Franc / Cabernet Sauvignon · Allowed

At least 24 months' ageing.

Other varieties allowed

Besides the main grapes, the rules allow these varieties in some wines. Grape names link where a profile exists.

54 varieties · 17 wines

Alicante, Alicante Bouschet, Ancellotta, Barbera, Barsaglina, Bonamico, Bracciola Nera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Calabrese, Caloria, Canaiolo Nero, Canina Nera, Carignan, Carmenere, Cesanese D Affile, Ciliegiolo, Colombana Nera, Colorino, Foglia Tonda, Gamay, Gralima, Grand Noir, Gratena, Groppello Gentile, Groppello di S. Stefano, Lambrusco Maestri, Malbec, Malvasia, Malvasia Nera di Brindisi, Malvasia Nera di Lecce, Mammolo, Mazzese, Merlese, Merlot, Mondeuse, Montepulciano, Moscato D Amburgo, Mourvèdre, Nocchianello Nero, Pinot Noir, Pollera Nera, Prugnolo Gentile, Pugnitello, Rebo, Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso, Roussin, Sagrantino, Sanforte, Schiava Gentile, Syrah, Tempranillo, Teroldego, Vermentino Nero

In the vineyard and cellar: rules for every wine

4,100

Vines per hectare, minimum

No forcing

Forcing the vines is prohibited

Emergency only

Irrigation

Cellar

Where the wine must be made

Within the production zone

Allowed

Enrichment (chaptalisation)

02 · Climate fingerprint

The climate

The growing season averages 18.5 °C, warm on Gregory Jones's scale, with 1,822 growing degree days (Winkler III).

The average year 1991–2020, vineyards at about 239 m

Monthly mean, °CRain, mmGrowing season

Growing-season temperature: 18.5 °C; Warm · 17–19 °C (Jones)
Growing degree days: 1,822; Region III: 1,667–1,943 degree days
Growing-season rain: 524 mm; Of 982 mm a year
Harvest rain: 219 mm; September–October

Copernicus ERA5-Land monthly averages at 5 vineyard points (Vineyard point 1, 324 m; Vineyard point 2, 261 m; Vineyard point 3, 47 m; Vineyard point 4, 374 m; Vineyard point 5, 188 m), moved to each point's height from the model's terrain. Indices that need daily data are not captured yet. How the climate figures are made.

Closest climates in the database

Picked by the data, not by hand: the profiles nearest on season warmth (counted twice), degree days, rain, ripening-month nights and day–night range. Neighbours within 30 km are left out, as they share the same weather.

1. Côtes du RoussillonVery similarCompared with Chianti: same season warmth, similar rain.

2. Sangue di GiudaVery similarCompared with Chianti: same season warmth, similar rain.

3. PominoVery similarCompared with Chianti: same season warmth, similar rain.

Growing-season temperature

Chianti

18.5 °C

Côtes du Roussillon

18.5 °C

Sangue di Giuda

18.5 °C

Pomino

18.5 °C

Growing degree days

Chianti

1,822

Côtes du Roussillon

1,814

Sangue di Giuda

1,816

Pomino

1,813

Growing-season rain

Chianti

524 mm

Côtes du Roussillon

530 mm

Sangue di Giuda

533 mm

Pomino

535 mm

03 · Year by year

35 vintages

Each column is one growing season: heat above or below the 1991–2020 average, and rain at harvest. Pick a year for the details.

Warmer than averageCooler than averageHarvest rain (Sep–Oct)Average harvest rain, 219 mm

2025

Growing-season temp.
Growing degree days
Harvest rain
Growing-season rain
September nights
Hot days and frosts

Seasons are labelled by harvest year (April–October). Year-to-year changes from ERA5-Land; tested against station records in Alto Adige (r = 0.94 for season temperature at Bolzano). Rain varies more locally, so treat single-season rain with some caution. Vintage ratings, harvest dates and frost or hail events have places in the data model but are not loaded yet.

04 · Where the numbers come from

Sources

A geospatial inventory of regulatory information for wine protected designations of origin in Europe · Candiago et al., Scientific Data 9, 394 (2022); Eurac Research · CC0
Quality wines in Italy and France: a dataset of PDO specifications · figshare 25393261 · CC BY 4.0
ERA5-Land monthly averaged data (reanalysis-era5-land-monthly-means) · Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), Climate Data Store · CC BY 4.0 (Copernicus licence)
OpenStreetMap vineyard areas (landuse=vineyard), from Geofabrik country extracts · OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL 1.0
Copernicus DEM GLO-90 (AWS open data tiles) · European Space Agency / Copernicus · Copernicus DEM licence
Disciplinare di produzione: Chianti · Ministero dell'agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foreste (MASAF) · Official act
Appellation nesting worked out from boundaries (pipeline/build_nesting.py) · Vinous, from the Eurac PDO boundaries · CC0 (source data)
Climate profiles calculated by Vinous: method

Still to check (3)

Generated from EU reference data: check against the current product specification.
From the specification: Yields apply to vineyards above 4,000 vines/ha; below that they are 9 t/ha (Chianti), 8 t/ha (subzones) and 7.5 t/ha (Superiore). Chianti Rufina needs 4,500 vines/ha for new plantings; tendone training is forbidden. Chianti Rufina Riserva is governed separately but not in the register list; riserva release dates are not stated. Winemaking is also allowed in surrounding Tuscan provinces, and governo all'uso toscano is permitted.
National tier (DOC/DOCG) not captured yet; rules extracted from the specification text.