The Drinks Business says says Chianti DOCG is preparing a major revision of its production rules, with the headline change being the creation of an official Chianti Rosé category. This rosé would have its own production rules, could carry sub-zone names, would be released from 1 December in the harvest year and could not use governo all’uso Toscano or the traditional fiasco bottle.
Other proposed changes include lowering the minimum Sangiovese in Chianti blends from 70% to 60%, capping Cabernet varieties at 15% across the appellation and 10% in Colli Senesi, and adding a new sub-zone called Terre di Vinci.
The draft also tightens vineyard rules, including minimum planting densities of 4,100 vines per hectare, or 4,500 in Rufina, banning the tendone training system and allowing emergency irrigation while still forbidding practices that artificially force production. Yield rules would also be softened so that excess production loses appellation status only for the surplus portion, not the whole batch.
There are also technical and administrative updates: lower minimum acidity thresholds, higher dry extract requirements for some categories, clearer tasting profiles for rosé, and a change so the control body is designated by the Ministry rather than named in the specification itself. The proposals still need formal approval.
