Collection: Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG

Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG is the highest quality tier within Chianti Classico, introduced in 2013 as a category above both Annata and Riserva. The appellation lies in the Chianti Classico zone between Firenze and Siena in the heart of Toscana, and it is precisely from here that all the wines in this category originate. In short, it is the pinnacle of what this classic Italian wine region can achieve.

What sets Gran Selezione apart is the requirement of provenance. The grapes must come exclusively from the producer's own vineyards, either a single plot or a selection of the estate's best parcels. This results in wines closely tied to a specific piece of land, and many labels do indeed bear one of the so-called Unità Geografiche Aggiuntive (UGA), the geographical sub-units delineated within the zone.

Sangiovese is the backbone. At launch, the rules required at least 80% Sangiovese with up to 20% other approved varieties, and from the 2027 harvest the minimum requirement rises to 90%, with the remainder having to be native Tuscan grapes such as Canaiolo, Colorino, Ciliegiolo or Pugnitello. It is a development that pulls the style back towards the local and the place-bound, and one that underlines the bond between the grape and its homeland.

Quality is regulated all the way through. A Gran Selezione must age for at least 30 months, of which at least three months on the bottle, before it may be sold, and the alcohol content must be at least 13% vol. Each individual wine is moreover assessed by an official tasting panel, which must approve its organoleptic properties before the certification is in place. It is a thorough process designed to ensure that the name on the label lives up to what it promises.

If you want to understand what the top of Chianti Classico can do, Gran Selezione is a natural place to begin. Here the origin of the plot and the estate's selection take centre stage, and you meet Sangiovese in its most refined form. Explore the selection above, or delve into the rest of our wines from Italien.