If You Like Chianti, Then You’ll be a Fan of Sangiovese

The Sangiovese grape comes from the Tuscany region of Italy and is the grape used in making Chianti wines. Wines made from this grape have a fruity strawberry taste when they are first produced, but as the wine ages they take on an oak flavour from the oak barrels in which they are aged.

Although the wine will last for a long time, the berries are very resistant to rot and care has to be taken when they are growing on the vines. They are blue-black in color and need very hot climates for growth. They do require a long growing season because they ripen very slowly.

The Sangiovese grapes were brought to California by Italian immigrants who started growing them in vineyards. They are also used in the wines produced by the vineyards of Virginia and in the wineries of Australia, particularly in Syrah (http://www.wineaccess.com/wine/grape/Syrah/Shiraz/) blends.

There are 14 duplicates of the Sangiovese grapes and many different clones of the wines. Wines bearing the name of Prognolo Gentile are true wines from this grape as this is an Italian synonym for Sangiovese.

The best wines of this nature to choose are:

• Brunello. This is regarded as one of the best Italian wines. The name comes from the clone of the Sangiovese grape used in production. This grape is small with a brown hue to the skin. The wines are aged for three to four years, with a large percentage of that time in oak barrels. Although you can drink this wine as soon as it is bottled, it tastes a lot better if you let it age for a further 3
or 4 years and some producers allow the wine to age for as long as 20 years.

• Chianti Sangioveto. This is the classic red wine made from the Sangiovese grape. It should be served at 59°F and will last in the bottle for up to ten years. It can be served with any foods that are well-seasoned. This wine comes from the Chianti region of Tuscany and only the wines from this region carry this brand name. This is one of the ways in which you know you are drinking a true Sangiovese wine.

• Asinone. This wine from the Montepulciano region of Italy is composed on 90% Sangiovese grapes, with the remaining 10% coming from Merlot (http://www.wineaccess.com/wine/grape/Merlot/) grapes.

Wines made from these grapes have a spicy taste, smooth texture and medium bodies. The grapes are often blended with other grapes in the Super Tuscan wines that come from Northern Italy. The best known of these Super Tuscans that uses the grapes is Cabernet Sauvignon, one of the premier red wines of the world.

There is a great deal of experimentation taking place with growing these grapes in many parts of the world that have the climate needed for the growing season. This is because the wines made from the Sangiovese grapes are smoother than most other wines and go well with virtually all kinds of food.

Experiments are also being conducted on blending the grapes with other varieties to produce new wines. Because it is the most commonly planted grape in Italy, this wine is not expensive and continues to be a best seller all over the world. You can do a general search online for retailers or narrow your search by year to find a wine that you can serve at any occasion.

By : Sarah Martin

Re-Published By : The Author