Montefioralle
The Montefioralle UGA takes its name from the ancient village. Although small and uniform from a geological point of view (the two prevailing formations are Alberese and Pietraforte), it can be divided into two distinct areas. The first, observable in the second image, extends between the border with the Panzano UGA and the village of Montefioralle and is distinguished both by the greater presence of Piefraforte (a calcareous sandstone) and by the widespread presence of olive trees and terracing and the prevalence of small farms in the area. The second area starting from the locality of Zano extends in a northerly direction toward Calcinaia and Greti (third image) and is characterized by generally gentler slopes, larger properties and vineyard plots and lower altitude levels, as well as by a clear prevalence of clay-limestone soils linked to the Alberese formation. More secluded and surrounded by woods is the Verrazzano area, visible in the fourth image, where Alberese continues to be the dominant soil. As can be seen in the last image, the Montefioralle UGA extends to the ridge that divides the Greve valley from the Pesa valley and where altitudes can exceed 500 meters above sea level.
How to use
As simple and intuitive as the use of panoramic images may be, some clarifications and suggestions seem in order.
- The expression Unità Geografica Aggiuntiva (UGA) applies to a specific and precisely delimited area within the Chianti Classico denomination. Some UGAs correspond to an entire commune, others to a portion of one, others result from the unification of parts of two communes.
- When a UGA corresponds to the area of a single commune, the name of the UGA has been shortened (San Casciano in Val di Pesa becomes simply San Casciano) or the use of the specification “in Chianti” has been avoided to avert useless repetitions on wine labels. Gaiole in Chianti becomes Gaiole, and Panzano in Chianti, which is not a commune, becomes Panzano. The names of Castelnuovo Berardenga, a commune, and San Donato in Poggio, which like Panzano is not a commune but a hamlet, remain unchanged.
- At the moment the use of UGA is foreseen only for Chianti Classico Gran Selezione wines.
- Coming now to the introductions to each UGA, the greater or lesser number of images used in the virtual tours depends on the overall shape and size of their territories. Some can be illustrated with few images and others require more detail. It follows that the different number of images in no way implies a difference in importance of one UGA with respect to another.
- To navigate between the different images within each tour, use the thumbnails below, above the command bar. To rotate the images to the right or left, drag them with the mouse or with your fingers, if you are using a phone or a tablet.
- In each image you will find names that identify geographical references and/or toponyms. Use them to orient yourself as you move from one panorama to another.
The colors used for the different names have three different functions. In white are the names of farms and villages within the Chianti Classico DOCG. In red are the names of communes, hamlets, mountains and hillocks within the same borders. In blue are the names of places located outside the territory of Chianti Classico DOCG. Some of them, such as mountains and hills, have been inserted to contextualize Chianti Classico with respect to other areas of Tuscany that many users will already know. - The recognized UGAs within the production zone of the Chianti Classico appellation are eleven. Starting from northwest and, moving generally clockwise, they are: San Casciano, Greve, Lamole, Montefioralle, Panzano, Radda, Gaiole, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Vagliagli, Castellina and San Donato in Poggio.
