La filiera del Chianti classico. Uno studio sull'annata 1987

The production and marketing chain for Chianti classico in Italy contains very diverse elements, from small producers whose output is delivered to a wine-making cooperative, to very large producer/winemaker companies. This paper attempts to describe the whole chain and its various processes in some detail. Several databases exist for the production of wine grapes and wine; the reliability of these data is discussed. In 1987, 800 notices were published notifying production of grapes suitable for the production of Chianti classico, which related to an area of 63 000 ha or 94% of all registered Chianti classico vineyards. Production units were subdivided for the analysis on the basis of their degree of vertical integration. Of all Chianti classico produced, 17% (57 000 hl) was subject to transfer to another unit, 46 000 hl of this to one of four main cooperatives. Statistics are presented for wine production by type of winemaker (e.g., cooperative, owner-winemaker) and by size class; figures for bulk production are also given. Owner winemakers account for 85% of all production, although non-producing bottlers account for the bottling of 65% of all of the bottled wine. Stocks and storage trends are noted; average storage time is ten months and stockholders hold an average of 14 000 hl on behalf of clients. Other issues considered are the degree of concentration at different stages along the chain, flows and requirements for fixed capital.