Placido Chianti 2014 / 1.5 L.

The Chianti region in central Tuscany produces the internationally-famous red wine of the same name. With a long history, the wines of Chianti have evolved through the years. At one point, Chianti was typically a blend of Sangiovese (the primary red grape used in the region) and several other grapes, including white grapes like Trebbiano and Malvasia. As wine trends and palettes have changed, most growers have eliminated the white grapes from their Chianti since they often caused the wines to be too light. Likewise, Chianti used to be recognized for it's distinct, squatty, straw-covered bottles, but producers have moved away from that since those bottles grew to be recognized as emblematic of a lesser quality wine.

All that aside, there are many world-class wines produced in Chianti, especially in the Chianti Classico zone located in the center of the region. Here you'll find medium-bodied, dry reds with firm tannins and high acidity. These wines are tremendous for pairing with Italian foods of all sorts.

There are few regions as picturesque as Italy's Tuscany. And there are few regions that produce finer wines, either. Tuscany is home to legendary wine regions Brunello di Montalcino and Chianti, among others, where the red wine grape Sangiovese is king. It's also home to "Super Tuscans," a category of Tuscan wines that don't officially fall within the Italian wine classification system.

Italy is famous for its powerful, sleek, and elegant reds wines from ancient growing areas with legendary names such as Chianti, Barolo, Barbaresco, Montepulciano. Italian white wines are also gaining popularity: Orvieto, Pinot Grigio, and Sauvignon are excellent examples of Italian white wines.

Wines of Italy are complex and flavorful, much like the culture that is their source and the cuisine that is their match.