Italian Chianti Beef Stew

Discover why Chianti had such a bad rep, what changed and why you need to try this red wine beef stew.

What is your first thought of Chianti?

Mine is the cheap straw basket served at the Reagle Beagle Lounge on Three’s Company. Did you know that basket is called a fiasco?  

Oh and there’s also the infamous Lady and Tramp spaghetti scene with a bottle of Chianti.

But Italian wine is made to pair with food. Chianti is loved its for its acidity, freshness and bright cherry flavour.

It just has a terrible reputation in North America.

Chianti’s Troubled Past – Unexpectedly Too Popular 

After the war there was much demand for Italian products and flavours. It’s why spaghetti bolognese exists only outside Italy – North Americans craved Italian flavours and wanted its wine to pair with it.

Unfortunately it also meant exported products were in such high demand that they quality decreased.

And the once great Sangiovese-based Chianti was allowed to have 20% white grapes blended into a lesser version ripe for the Americas.

Quantity over quality.

Not surprisingly this cheaper wine was regarded as poor quality and it suffered, especially as winemakers in California were starting to create better wine at the same price.

Ironically a fiasco is an event with a disastrous outcome and so Chianti suffered.

In the last 1980s Italian winemakers decided to change the regulations and return to creating the high quality of wine it from the Renaissance Era.

But it’s taken time for Chianti to make its comeback, and now it’s an under appreciated wine.
 

Chianti Wine Region

Lust for those rolling hills of Tuscany? This is the home of Chianti.

I once thought Chianti Classico meant it was made in the classic tradition – silly me! Like Bordeaux wine in France, Chianti can only come from one region.

There are eight sub zones in Tuscany that are permitted to make it but the highest quality generally comes from the regions Classico and Ruffimo.
 

 
Chianti Classico only contains red grapes and must consist of at least 80% Sangiovese grapes – one of the most difficult to grow in the region.

The standard Chianti Classico may be released in October but the Riserva must be aged for at least 24 months.

Americans and Canadians import more wine from Italy than any other country. Americans buy twice as much Italian wine as Australian and three times more than France. 

Look for the Gallo Nero – The Black Rooster

If you’re confused about what to get look for the black rooster, which guarantees you’re getting a Chianti Classico with at least 80% Sangiovese grapes.

The legend of the gallo nero is fantastic folklore and potentially could be true?

Florence and neighbouring Siena had fought over the borders to their regions.

To settle the battle they would each send a horseman out at dawn.

Wherever the horses met would be the border and so there was pressure to find the fastest rider to secure the most land.

Legend says that Siena is known for its pudgy white roosters but in Florence they had a cantankerous thin black rooster they hadn’t fed the night before.

And so he woke up early while the well-fed white rooster cozily slept in.

This is why most of the Chianti region is with Florence. The black rooster remains a symbol of the region.

Castello di Gabbiano

At Gabbiano everything old is new again.

When the region emerged as a wine mecca in the 1200s, winemakers Castello di Gabbiano were well established in the historic region.

Although Gabbiano is known as one of the premier winemakers that hasn’t stopped them from evolving.

They are experimenting with a wild yeast and sourcing Italian Oak from outside Florence called Roverella.

For them the definition of a great Chianti evolves with new techniques but always maintaining the standard.

And while Chianti Riserva accounts for 20 per cent of the wine production for the region, at Gabbiano they dedicate 50% of their production.

It’s not surprising that Gabbiano Chianti DOCG is the #1 highest volume selling Chianti in America

 
 

But the best part of this winery is that if you like the wine you can stay there.

There are also cooking classes, events, an olive harvest. At Il Cavaliere restaurant Executive Chef Francesco Berardinelli creates food pairings.

And his Chianti red wine beef stew pairs perfectly with the Estate’s wine.

Chianti Beef Stew

Chefs love Chianti, it’s a wine that pairs so well with food. Chianti loves beef and earthy flavours like mushrooms.

Chianti has a moderate body with great acidity and so it can hold its own with bold red sauces and ragu.

Pin it: Red Wine Beef Stew 

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Disclosure: This is a sponsored post but as always my opinions and love for wine remains my own. Castello di Gabbiano asked me to simply share my thoughts about Chianti Classico where I was able to reminisce about Three’s Company and lust for this red wine beef stew. For more information about Castello di Gabbiano find them on Facebook, Instagram and their website for more great recipes like the Chianti beef stew.

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