Cantine Bonacchi

Italy

bonacchi.it

Considered one of the top Chianti producers to be found anywhere in the world.

Our third selection from our International Wine Club shipment is the Cantine Bonacchi 2004 Chianti Riserva, produced from Cantina Bonacchi’s modernistic winery in Quarrata, a town in the Montalbano Hills of Italy, in the very heart of the Chianti production zone.

Cantine Bonacchi and owner/winemaker Andrea Bonacchi own 60 hectares (a little over 148 acres) of vineyards, 40 in the Montalbano zone and 20 in the Classico Gallo Nero along with additional vineyards in Montalcino near Sienna.

While Chianti can trace its origins back to the middle ages, in 1716 the area became officially recognized. In 1932, a ministerial decree gave it added importance. To be an accredited Riserva, the wine must be aged two years in oak barrels, then another three months in bottles and must have a minimum alcoholic content of 12%. This wine is produced from one of Cantine Bonacchi’s premier vineyards and is 100% Sangiovese. The Bonacchi Chianti Classico DOCG has performed well on the international wine stage and is considered one of the top Chiantis to be found anywhere in the world.

Each and every wine selected for our six different Wine Clubs meets our strict guidelines for quality and rating criteria. Each wine is handcrafted by an authentic, small-production boutique winery with a compelling story to tell like the one above. Since our first Gold Wine Club shipment in 1992, we have added five more impressive Wine Clubs to choose from—each a showcase for highly-rated, sought-after wines you can enjoy as a Gold Medal, wine of the month club member.

Map of the area

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How to read an Italian wine label

Although Italian wine labels must display necessary information like the producer’s name and type of wine, another helpful distinction is the quality classification. To guarantee and protect the origin of Italian wines, an appellation system was established to classify all types of wine according to region, quality, zones, and grape variety. This appellation system was developed by the Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) wine legislation and helps regions to develop their own specific identity.

Wines that meet the strictest standards are classified as DOCG and must pass a blind taste test for quality in addition to conforming to the strict legal requirements to be designated as a wine from the area in question. Other classifications include DOC, IGT, and Vdt which are more focused on defining the wine’s geography, rather than the varietal composition.