The Chianti Classico Collection venue is already gearing up
Two months to go for the traditional Black Rooster date with the wine press and trade operators, slated for next February 17 and 18 at the Stazione Leopolda in Florence.

Last year’s edition was a great success, thanks to enthusiastic reactions from the wine press and wine trader and really big figures. The traditional date with Chianti Classico changed its name, from “Anteprima” to “Chianti Classico Collection”, confirming the format that for years has been animating the Black Rooster’s biggest event: presenting to a qualified public the latest vintages and principal new releases from one of the world’s most famous denominations.

The 2009 Chianti Classico Collection, scheduled for February 17 and 18 in the lovely setting of the Stazione Leopolda in Florence, takes off right from the favorable opinions of the 1300 people attending the last edition.

In the months that followed nature took its course and the 2008 grape harvest gave healthy grapes with good acidity ready to be transformed into an “excellent year” by Chianti Classico producers. As always, these winemakers will be the stars of the “2009 Collection” at which they will be presenting the 2007 Chianti Classico, the 2006 Riserva and barrel previews of the 2008 vintage.

Judging the progress the 2008 is making in the cellar and the success of the Chianti Classicos already on the market (leaders in this year’s wine guides, too) will be the wine journalists and wine operators, to whom the “Collection” has always been dedicated.

As usual, the doors of the Leopolda will be open on the first day, February 17, only to the Italian and international press, while on February 18 at noon the event will also welcome wine traders, who until 8 p.m. will be able to meet with producers and sample the various labels.

Starting December 22 sector operators can sign up right from consortium website, www.chianticlassico.com, clicking on the banner on the right side of the homepage that will take visitors straight to an area entirely devoted to the “Collection”.

In brief, just a couple of clicks and you can be part of one of the wine world’s biggest events.