Chianti Classico: Riding Out the Storm

BY ANTONIO GALLONI | JULY 10, 2025

After an extraordinary vintage in 2021, producers in Chianti Classico faced two much more stressful growing seasons in 2022 and 2023. Those who were able to cope with those challenges turned out beautiful wines, but there is no getting past the simple fact that quality is inconsistent across the board. Even so, there is plenty to explore in this year’s new releases, ranging from wines from estates that handled the whims of Mother Nature to newer small projects and those that have made important strides in improving quality.

Marco Pallanti, Lorenza Sebasti and their son, Arturo Pallanti presented some of the most exceptional wines I tasted for this year’s report.

A Little Background

Even after all these years, Chianti Classico is a very special place for me personally. I first visited the region in the early 1990s with my parents on a family vacation to Florence and the surrounding countryside. My more cultured sister took us around all the museums, churches and piazzas, patiently explaining the artistic treasures before our eyes. I appreciated the art, but I was more interested in eating and drinking. Some years later, I wrote my first article on wine for my hometown newspaper. It was on Chianti Classico. Returning to these pristine hillside towns always brings back memories from that trip more than 30 years ago and an interest in wine that began to blossom around the same time.

Since then, Chianti Classico and its wines have soared to new heights. Historic estates have improved quality and consistency, while a wave of younger producers continue to reinvigorate the region with approaches that challenge preconceived notions of what Chianti Classico is and what it can be. This is such an exciting time for the region, a period marked by the most innovation I have seen in 30 years.

Angela Fronti at Istine is one of the young producers leading the new generation in Chianti Classico.