Vagliagli
The sensation of amplitude perceived in this first image (of the Vagliagli UGA) only partially renders the emotion one feels entering the village of Vagliagli on the dirt road from Castellina in Chianti. The wild nature of the interior areas of Chianti Classico gives way, within a few hundred meters, to an almost Mediterranean ambience that is impossible not to perceive. But what appears as a sudden change, on close examination reveals itself as a much more gradual transition. Observing, for example, the second image, one can see how the area of Aiola and Dievole retains, for the most part, the nature of the interior of Chianti Classico and, in particular, of Radda and Gaiole. Similarly, in the third image, the area of Mocenni appears to be a continuation of Casa Frassi, which in turn can be seen as an example of that vast area of Castellina in Chianti with Fonterutoli its point of reference.
Returning now to the first image, and considering the lay of the land, it is worth underlining how altitudes decline toward the south in a very gradual way, contributing to the sensation of uniformity of the landscape that is clearly perceived when driving along the road from Vagliagli to Pievasciata and then to Pianella (fourth and fifth image). However, for a long stretch of time, these altitudes remain around 400 meters above sea level, a greater height than might be imagined while travelling through the territory.
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.
