The Story
Chianti Classico Colonia Gran Selezione is a DOCG wine produced by the Felsina winery, which grows its vineyards in the province of Siena and has an ancient winemaking tradition dating back to the 1960s. This red wine is made from the Sangiovese grape variety, native to Tuscany and vinified as a single varietal, which tends to ripen late. Its medium-large grapes have a rather thin, purplish-black skin. The calcareous-clayey soil, warm climate, and dry climate favor the cultivation of this grape variety and give the wine its distinctive organoleptic characteristics. Its cultivation provides reasonable yields, allowing the wine to maintain its high quality. Sangiovese ripens late, so the harvest always begins in late September/early October and is done manually to allow for a careful and meticulous selection of the bunches. After the destemming phase, aimed at separating the grapes from the stalks, and the pressing phase, the alcoholic fermentation begins at 28-30°C. Maceration takes place in large stainless steel tanks for a duration of 16-20 days, with frequent mechanical punching down and pumping over. The must is then transferred to French oak barrels for a further maturation period of 2 and a half years, where it will impart its aromas and essences to the wine. This is followed by the blending, also known as the cuvée. The aging then continues in the bottle for a further period of 8-12 months.