The Chianti Classico Collection slated for February 17 and 18 at the Stazione Leopolda in Florence will not only be offering 358 wines for tasting but also the chance to enjoy some collateral events created through collaboration between the Chianti Classico Wine Consortium and various enterprises in the territory...

And so on the morning of February 17 (the event’s first day, devoted exclusively to the press) guests will be welcomed with a screening of the work of eight Tuscan cartoonists featuring as many vignettes devoted to the Black Rooster. The installation is a preview of the project “The Secrets of the Black Rooster – A Great Wine and Noble Recipes Twixt Florence and Siena” by Giancarlo Frisella and Mauro Bruni, editors of the publication that in a charming blend of words, recipes and comic strips offers an amusing and very useful book of Tuscan dishes matched with Chianti Classico wines. In addition to being shown throughout the event at the entrance to the Leopolda, the cartoons will be used for the new 2009 Postcard Collection, which last year in its first edition featured scenes of Chianti Classico territory. The public attending the “Collection” can pick up this year’s selection of postcards from the displays near the video installation. 

From cartoons to the art of ice cream making: at the end of the dinner held on February 17, journalists, consortium members and institutional guests will be able to taste the first Chianti Classico-flavored ice cream. In this case it will be the Gelateria Carapina in Florence (Piazza G. Oberdan 2r – www.gelateriacarapina.it), maker of superb homemade ice cream, creating the different flavors of the Black Rooster gelato: Chianti Classico wine, oil and Vin Santo. After creating panettone and beer flavors, Simone Bonini, Carapina’s owner and creative spirit, thus continues along his path of experimentation, strictly under the banner of natural workmanship and a surprising fidelity of the final product to the raw material. 

And all day Wednesday the 18 it will be possible to play with Chianti Classico using the revolutionary tasting systems devised by Enomatic, the company that quickly became a leader in wine-by-the-glass technology thanks to its innovative dispensers. The trade, to which the second day is devoted (doors open at noon), can test their knowledge of the Black Rooster through a blind tasting of vintage, reserve and barrel-preview Chianti Classico. Whoever wants to play the game will have to taste the different types of “Classico” supplied by Enomatic dispensers. The cleverest will win Black Rooster merchandise. 

In brief, lots of interesting extras that this year, too, will contribute to celebrating the latest Chianti Classico wines.