Panzano
Located in the extreme southwestern part of the commune of Greve in Chianti, the Panzano UGA, as can be seen in the first image in the background, is characterized by two opposing slopes. To the right, with the hill of Vitigliano at the center, lies the eastern slope, which is part of the catchment area of the Greve river and is characterized by a cooler microclimate. To the left lies the western slope, overlooking the valley of the Pesa river, whose wines have a structure comparable to those of the eastern slope but are usually more earthy and austere in character and therefore less fruity. As can be seen in the second image, the western slope is not limited to the Conca d’Oro, but includes a series of parallel ridges which descend toward the Pesa, ending with the Rignana ridge, near the border of the San Donato in Poggio UGA. Also part of the western slope is the area between Montebernardi and Crespine, visible in the third image, where the landscape—but not the wines—begins to assume characteristics of the Radda UGA. Returning to the differences between the two slopes, it is worth taking a look at the last image where it can be noted, perhaps with even greater clarity, the variations of landscape and exposure: the eastern slope faces toward Monte San Michele and therefore the Chianti Mountains, whereas the western slope, more luminous, faces toward Monte Serra and therefore Tuscany’s Tyrrhenian coast.
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.
