We all love a good wine. Some regions are famed with making the best wines in the world. Some wine lovers even make long trips to go to these places just because of the wine they make. Shianti is one of those places. Located in Tuscany, Italy, Shianti wines come in a uniquely done bottle with a basket at the bottom although this is gradually changing as the company tries to give their bottle a more modern image. However, traditional bottles still exist for the sake of collectors and people who still love the old bottle that drove the wine to its fame. Shianti wines are produced in an area called Chianti although some other wines produced in other areas also have this name on their label. The origins of Shianti wines can be traced back to the 13th century when it was discovered and identified as a wine type. The main grapes used for its production are the Malvasia and Trebbiano for white wines and the Canaiolo and Sangiovese for red wines. Currently, about seven zones in Italy help make this wine. Although the zones are not as elaborate as their counterparts in France are, which is very popular for wine and wine making, they are doing very well and creating a very good image for Italy in the world of wine making. One famous zone is the Classico. It was recognized by law in the early 1700s and rapidly expanded in the early 1930s. This expansion led to the zone including smaller vineyards into their process, this greatly damaged their reputation, and consequences were suffered. This was a great lesson to Shianti wines and all other areas that were expanded thereafter were done in a manner that is more logical hence avoiding negative consequences and a tarnished image. However, strict wine lovers endeavor to learn about the Shianti winery itself as opposed to just learning about the zone from which the wine comes. Shianti wines are bold, strong and red. This is a very strong combination for most wine lovers and this therefore makes it a very popular wine. It has been featured on several TV shows more notably from the popular American series, The Sopranos. Shianti wines come in plum, cherry, spice, vanilla, coffee, almonds, strawberry and tobacco flavors. Although all these wines are very popular, statistics show that cherry, plum and strawberry are the most popular. Because it has a sweet and fruity taste, it is very common among new wine drinkers or people who are not much into drinking. It is both sweet and strong and does not leave an after-taste in the mouth. Shianti wines are to be served just like other red wines; in a wine glass specifically made for red wine. In fact, there is a specific glass recommended for drinking Shianti wines. The reason provided for this is that the glass ensures that the drinker gets as much as possible out of the wine because it accentuates the fruity flavor of the wine. To savor the wine accordingly, it should be served at about 59F and can stay up to ten years unopened. Strict wine tasters and collectors say that the best Shianti wines were made in the year 1997. They say that the most memorable wines of the century will be recognized as having been made in that year. Therefore, this makes those wines very rare and expensive. When buying Shianti wines, it is important to ensure that you buy the correct wine. A black rooster emblem is included alongside the Shianti name on most bottles today. The Chianti Classico zone says that they use this emblem so that it can draw attention to the region from which the wine is made. The wine is now made in a more modern look although the wine-in-a-basket bottle can also be found in selected stores, mainly in Italy.
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