Chianti Classico's UGAs ... what do you think?

[Robin Garr]

As a longtime lover of Chianti in general, I'm interested in the Chianti Classico Consorzio's plan to establish 11 new Unitá Geografiche Aggiuntive (UGA), additional geographic units that will divide the classic Tuscan region into smaller, more terroir-specific production zones. I expect it will result in higher prices, but also maybe some pretty good wines. What do you think?

Good overview here from The 750:
https://daily.sevenfifty.com/what-you-n ... icos-ugas/

[David M. Bueker]

Huh. Well it might cause me to buy a few extra bottles, just to see if I can discern any differences. Opportunities for blind tastings galore!

I'm in favour of initiatives like this. I think they can help to raise standards as well as having a marketing impact for European consumers. In France the Mâconnais is trying to do something similar, particularly at Pouilly-Fuissé. Cahors has projects for differentiating different crus according to terroir type but, naturally, there is a lot of opposition especially from those who think they may lose out; I don't think this has got anywhere yet.

The cynic in me says it's mainly about the money. Did the gran selezione option really change anything?

I'm with John S. I think this is just an excuse to jack up prices.

What they really ought to do is to take the name "Chianti" away from the non-Classico appellations that Mussolini set up.

-Paul W.

I'm with John S. I think this is just an excuse to jack up prices.

What they really ought to do is to take the name "Chianti" away from the non-Classico appellations that Mussolini set up.

-Paul W.

Of course achieving price increases is part of the agenda. However in France such initiatives are led by people who are genuinely interested in giving corresponding value by recognizing the better terroirs and attaching stricter criteria (yields, etc.) for obtaining the AOP from them. I don't see why it should be different in Italy.