Chianti beyond its wine

The wines from 'Chianti' are once more appreciated throughout the entire world. The region attracts tourists, for its oenological offerings, but also for its culture and beautiful landscape. Unemployment is a thing of the past. Everything seems to be going well, however, reality actually is more complicated. The dark period of the 1960s and 1970s left a series of problems. Many vineyards, re-built thanks to contributions from the European Community, have been planted in the wrong positions. These vineyards are the cause of severe erosion processes, and will eventually have to be replaced. Secondly, income in many parts of Chianti where olive trees are dominant on terraces is almost non-existent. Therefore, often their cultivation has been abandoned and the terraces and dry walls have been collapsing. Furthermore, the demand for housing in the vicinity of Florence and Siena has multiplied. This in turn has caused an enormous increase in prices and a great boost in building speculation.