| The territory as a signature |
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On behalf of the vintners in our beautiful territory I would like to give a very warm welcome to wine journalists, restaurateurs, wine merchants and lovers of fine wine. Welcome to Chianti Classico! It’s always a pleasure, as well as a great honor, to see such demonstrations of affection as you have been giving us for so many years with your assiduous presence. For us it’s a good omen and, I’m certain, will also be one for this new edition of our Collection. Last year’s edition was attended by more than 190 journalists and more than 1300 sector operators, extraordinary figures that this year we are certain to surpass. During these two days in Florence you will be shown a great wine territory in its entirety, with its aspects and interpretations: the 325 Chianti Classicos to be sampled at the Stazione Leopoldo in Florence are able to satisfy even the most demanding palates. It’s impossible not to enjoy them. It is also true, however, that 2009 began under a cloud of general pessimism and it is truly hard to ignore what has happened and is occurring on world markets. Unfortunately, the global recession has begun to lap our shores and will presumably hit our region too. While not endemic, it is a problem that will have to be dealt with, and Chianti Classico producers know very well that for any strategy, however ingenious, to be a success it has to be rooted in wine quality. Fortunately, inaction has never been one of our defects and this time too the territory has prepared for “lean years”. Testifying to this are the more than 10,000 acres replanted over the past ten years with clones of the finest Sangiovese, the fruit of studies conducted since the 80s. In addition, greater know-how in vineyard and cellar has quickly led us to a considerable improvement in average quality and greater territorial characterization. The word crisis has in its Greek etymology a solution to the problem: krisis is the time separating one thing from another. In practice, a crisis inevitably leads us to make choices, and this is surely the best vaccine. The wine world has grown enormously, thanks to many new territories, and at the same time has been flooded with many too many mediocre wines. The consumer is dazed by the myriad labels touting an original product, as if all terrains could be terroirs capable of rendering a wine unique, and instead are often copies infinitely replicable and reproducible anywhere. The Chianti Classico/Sangiovese union guarantees our wines the signature many strive for and few achieve, but by now this is clear to everyone. All that remains is to wish you an enjoyable tasting and to sincerely thank you for being with us once again. Marco Pallanti
President Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico |
