Chianti Profile
Chianti is what most people think of when it comes to Tuscany: gentle rolling green hills, vineyards dotting the landscapes, sunflowers craning their necks towards the sun each day and ancient towns and villages secure in their valleys between the powerhouse cities of Florence and Siena. 
Chianti also probably has the highest concentration of high quality villa rentals anywhere on earth. The good news is the bucolic views and way of life will remain for centuries to come due to very strict laws governing development. Pretty much what you see will be what your grandchildren will see.
Of course, you must visit Florence, Siena, Lucca, Cortona and other towns, each an hour or so or less away from your villa. In a related story, we outline, in brief, some of the highlights of each of these cities. Please click here to read more about the Cities of Tuscany.
One of the primary attractions of Tuscany is its central location in Italy, bordering the western coast along the Mediterranean Sea. There is hilly countryside given over to vineyards and olive groves, as well as metropolitan cities, and even the beach is not too far away.
Cities such as Florence, Siena and Pisa, together with smaller towns like Lucca, Cortona and Arezzo, contain some of Italy's most famous artistic treasures. Medieval villages such as San Gimignano in Chianti, allow you to explore fascinating historical buildings that have been preserved for centuries.
Tuscany has some of the most beautiful farm country in the world and is well known for its Chianti wine, olive oil, rich cheeses and unique pastas. Tuscans are also known for their down-to-earth, hearty, home style dishes . If you’re a true foodie, you’ll be awed by walking through the vineyards and tasting local varieties of wine or taking in the aroma of a truffle just plucked from the dusky earth.
Whether you are enjoying the food, shopping, or traveling back in history to explore Etruscan ruins, the time is yours to spend as you please. As the days unwind, you will enter a world where time slows down and you capture the joy of discovering new places and people with those you love.
Chianti, as in wine!
It’s a word familiar to those who are passionate about wine; in fact, Chianti is the fourth most-recognized Italian word!
Chianti is historically linked with the production of wine, and the area stretches from Sienna in the south to Florence in the north, the Chianti Mountains in the east and the valleys of the Pesa and Elsa rivers in the East. It’s a vast land, in the heart of Tuscany, and the wine it produces is a jewel among Tuscan wines.
The Chianti Classico is something special. The term “Classico” has the implication of old or original, and the wines that are allowed to bear this name are produced in an area which has been delineated by Ministerial decree in 1932.
The Chianti Classico is a blend of two reds and one or two whites - Sangiovese (75-95%), Cannailo (5-10%), Malvasia and/or Trebbiano (2-5%). The soul of the Chianti Classico is the Sangiovese, contributing 80 to 95 percent of its ingredients. The wine makers of the region grouped together to form a consortium in 1924, and chose the symbol of a black rooster.
