Chianti Rufina launches Terraelectae, a new top tier wine

Chianti Rufina, one of Chianti most extreme villages, has created a new top tier category of wines which will be called Terraelectae, a term which will be added to the label in addition to the village name to indicate the top quality of the so-called Chianti pyramid.

Terraelectae must be a single vineyard Riserva wine (min 12.5% alcohol) made from 100% Sangiovese grapes. Cropping levels are limited to 7T/ha. The wines must be aged for 30 months of which at least 18 months must be in oak barrels and at least 6 months in bottle.

Rufina is a village outside the Chianti Classico sub-region. Its main claim to fame is that it is amongst the highest altitude vineyards in Chianti, producing wines with elegance and freshness.

The Chianti Pyramid, without the new Terraelectae, is

Chianti
Chianti (with village name such as Rufina)
Chianti Classico
Chianti Classico Riserva
Chianti Classico Gran Selezione

None of these wines are required to come from a single vineyard, unlike Rufina’s Chianti Terraelectae.