THE BLACK ROOSTER AT VINEXPO 2013

Chianti Classico goes to Bordeaux with more than 70 labels to be tasted and much news to relate (HALL 1 – E130 / DE131)

CHIANTI CLASSICO: THE ORIGINAL
The heart of Tuscany, a territory composed of nine communities located in the provinces of Florence and Siena, is the birthplace of Chianti Classico, one of the world’s most famous and admired wines, guaranteed by the highest status for Italian wine, the DOCG (Denomination of Origin Controlled and Guaranteed). Distinguished by its unmistakable Black Rooster trademark, Chianti Classico is made in compliance with strict production regulations that first and foremost entail a minimum composition of 80% of Sangiovese, the red grape typical of the territory whose finest expression is in Chianti Classico wine. The wine that comes solely from the “oldest zone of origin”, the one delimited by Grand Duke of Tuscany Cosimo III in an edict of 1716, and the only one entitled to bear the historic Black Rooster symbol.

THE NEWS IN 2013
In 2013 the Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico, the organization that protects and valorizes the denomination, approved a number of measures leading to an authentic revamping of the DOCG. Among the most important were the creation of a new type of Chianti Classico positioned at the summit of the quality pyramid, enhancement of the Riserva through more restrictive production rules and a restyling of the famous Black Rooster trademark that leaves the state neckband for greater visibility on the bottle. There were also significant changes to bulk wine sales.

The birth of Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
This new wine is at the top of the quality pyramid for Chianti Classico, which is currently sold in two different versions: Annata (year’s vintage) and Riserva. The Gran Selezione is made solely from grapes grown in a single vineyard or selected from the vintner’s finest vineyards. In addition, where ageing is concerned, Gran Selezione rules aim at excellence and so the wine is put on the market only after 30-month post-harvest maturation, including 3 months of refinement in the bottle.

New rules for the Riserva
The Riserva – which accounts for 25% of production and 35% to 40% of denomination revenue – was also involved in the revamping. While the maturation period remains the same (a minimum of 24 months, at least 3 of which in bottle refinement), from now on the producer must always declare product destination (Annata, Riserva, Gran Selezione) when applying for suitability certification. This means that, when requesting certification, the vintner has to declare whether the sample presented will be used for Chianti Classico Annata, Riserva or Gran Selezione. The oversight board, which evaluates suitability through chemical analyses conducted by a certified laboratory and organoleptic tests performed by specific tasting commissions, will decide the proper classification for the wine submitted for certification.

The “destined-for” disappears
While until now it was possible to market wine “destined for” Chianti Classico – in other words wine not yet certified by the oversight board as suitable for the Black Rooster DOCG – with changes to production regulations this is now prohibited. Bulk lots of Chianti Classico may be marketed only if their suitability has been certified.

Black Rooster restyling
The trademark that since 2005 has represented the entire denomination and was positioned on the state neckband used by all Chianti Classico producers has been graphically revised to make it even more prominent on every bottle. In addition it enjoys new positioning on the bottle itself to give it greater visibility.

THE WINERIES PERSONALLY PRESENT AT VINEXPO 2013
Bibbiano, Bindi Sergardi, Capannelle, Casale dello Sparviero, Castelli del Grevepesa, Castello di Monsanto, Félsina, Fontodi, Lornano, Marchesi Mazzei, Poggio Bonelli, Principe Corsini – Villa Le Corti, Querciabella, Rocca di Castagnoli – Castello San Sano, San Felice and San Vincenti.

The Chianti Classico Consorzio gives us all of the details:

Chianti Classico sales up 10% in 2012, thanks mainly to exports.  This is an upward trend after a smaller growth in 2011, which was up 4% over 2010.

The top customers outside of Italy for the Black Rooster’s Wines? The United States, Germany and Canada. 

Exports of Chianti Classico reached an 80% share of sales. This is a solid “base” that in the future promises to give the Black Rooster denomination a reassuring certainty in sales, enabling it to look to the future with optimism in spite of the fact that the global economy is still in a delicate state.

From 2010 to 2012, sales of Chianti Classico held steady in the traditional markets noted above. The United States came first (28% of sales in 2010, 2011 and 2012) followed by Germany, growing nicely (12% in 2010, 13% in 2011 and 12% in 2012), Canada, another market on the rise and taking the place of Great Britain (7% in 2010, 8% in 2011 and 9% in 2012).

Other market shares include the United Kingdom (7% in all three years), Switzerland (7% in all three years), Japan (4% in all three years), Scandinavia (4% in 2012 from 2% in 2011) and other countries (3% in all three years) on a par in 2012 with Benelux, while Russia’s share was 2% and China’s 1%. This picture is in line with the overall trend for Italian wine: the uptake is basically in exports.

There were contrasting signals from the Italian market, where Black Rooster labels still hold a secondary share of sales (24% in 2010, 22% in 2011 and 20% in 2012) but clearly this has been influenced by the general decline in wine consumption in Italy (falling well below the “psychological” level of 40 liters per capita).

Continuing is the trend in reduced stock, down 5% from 2011 figures, and an upturn in bulk wine prices, from July 2012 to date rising from 120 to 140 euros per hectoliter to 150 to 175.

In 2012 Chianti Classico wine production was of 235,000 hectoliters, down 16% from the previous year. There are 560 members of the Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico, 365 of which are bottlers. Chianti Classico, which in the wine world can properly be called a district, can count on “big enterprise” figures: sales that can be estimated as more than 500 million euro, bottled wine production worth 360 million euro and olive oil production worth 10 million euro.

P.S. the Consortium counts on the professionalism of the Press to whom this press release is addressed to insure that the name of the “Chianti Classico” appellation not be modified or shortened. Substituting “Chianti Classico” with “Chianti” means radically changing the information which we are communicating. These two names, in fact, represent two appellations (DOCGs) with an entirely different production area, history, and producer’s Consortiums. 

If you wish to utilize an alternative term for “Chianti Classico”,  we suggest the use of “Black Rooster” , the icon and symbol which are synonymous with the “Chianti Classico” DOCG.

Thank you for your attention to this point.  (the Consorzio)

More than 20 years have passed since the first Chianti Classico Collection in 1993.  Then, only a couple dozen journalists attended the event.

Now it is one of the most important international wine events in the world. From February 18 to 20, 2013,  in the charming location of Stazione Leopolda in Florence, more than 200 journalists from all over the world will meet and taste the new Chianti Classico vintages from more than 130 producers. In addition to the journalists, professionals are also invited, and the first day is dedicated to them.

Included in this tremendous event is the tasting of the 2012 Chianti Classico DOP Olive oils – also not to be missed.

Trade professionals may register for the event by going to: www.chianticlassicocollection.it 

Expert VS Aficionado: The Black Rooster compares the critics’ and the public’s opinions

The Black Rooster is set to shake it up in Chicago next month at Chill, an international wine and culinary event featuring wines from around the world and cuisine from distinguished chefs. The venue is LuxeHome,the world’s largest collection of premier boutiques for the home.

There will be wine and food stations throughout the LuxHome boutiques — a grand fete for local charities in Chicago.

This is the sixth year that LuxeHome, in partnership with Wine Spectator Magazine, is holding this grand wine and food event.  Two thousand five hundred guests come from all over to attend.

If you are in Chicago, come see us crow!

Details:

Thursday, November 15, 2012

LuxeHome, The Merchandise Mart, Chicago

5-6:00 pm VIP tasting Reception ($175)

6-8:30 the Main Event and Silent Auction ($85)

More information at :  luxehome.com/chill

Ah, we know it is just the end of September, but we already have sugar plums dancing in our heads, and we are early birds. The black rooster is no slacker.

We have just the right gift for the wine lovers on your list — this is just a few – and just think, if you get your shopping out of the way, you’ll have more time to sit by the fire and sip Chianti Classico.  Ahh.  Visit http://shop.chianticlassico.com/

The latest scoop here:

The Chianti Classico 2012 grape harvest shows lower quantities but growing optimism for the quality of the vintage and its star, Sangiovese.

It’s still hard to say but after a dry season and one of hottest summers in Chianti in recent years the weather seems to be promising well for an excellent grape harvest. Of course, the hot, dry weather registered until the end of August had a big influence on the amount of grapes that will be brought in – an estimated 15% less – but where quality is concerned optimism is increasing week by week.

In fact, while the year began normally, with cold weather and snow in January and February and a mild, rainy spring, especially in April, after a wet start of May the rain disappeared, not only in Black Rooster territory but in most of Italy, as temperatures began to rise. July and August were months of high-pressure systems that, whatever the mythological names they were dubbed with, brought torrid heat waves. Together with scarce water reserves in the ground, these extremely high temperatures partly showed down grape ripening although it never actually came to a halt.

The early September rainstorms fortunately revived natural maturation processes and, along with a general average drop in daytime temperatures and much cooler nights – which Chianti enjoyed even during the hottest months – there are good expectations for a fine reversal of a situation that just lately looked pretty grim, especially for the late-ripening varieties like Sangiovese.

And it will be precisely this prince of Chianti Classico grapes to characterize the new vintage: in fact, thanks to Sangiovese’s greater adaptability to tougher temperature conditions, it seems to have nicely withstood the heat and lately is fully benefiting from the rain and cooler weather.

From the health standpoint the grapes are in perfect condition, thanks precisely to the high temperatures and lack of humidity that prevented the onset of the traditional vine afflictions (downy and powdery mildews, etc.).

While still waiting to see how the weather will behave in coming days, we can confidently state that the 2012 harvest will be taking place between late September and early October, a week ahead of customary grape picking time in Black Rooster territory.

In just a few days will begin the Wine Blogger Conference 2012, held in the heart of Portland, “next door” to Oregon’s wine region, famous Willamette Valley.

It’ll be three busy days of conferences, tours, tastings and lots more!

On the strength of its name the organization has attracted a good 380 participants, people from all over the world who share the same great passion: the wine world!

Here in the office we are electrified by this event and can’t wait to get to Oregon to get acquainted with new wineries and wine-lovers and compare and share with them our own world (Chianti), our history (the consortium and its members) and our wine (Chianti Classico).

Anyone wanting to follow our updates from Portland will find us on Facebook and Twitter.

We’ve also created a Foursquare venue where you can stop by and leave comments :)

Come join us!