What would a #TipsyTuesday be like without the very thing that makes it “tipsy worthy?” 😀

Chianti, that little slice of Italy we all love, a wine named after a hilly town in Italy first cultivated by the Etruscans long ago. Chianti’s history reads almost as intriguingly as the wine tastes. You can find a Image

How to Choose a bottle of Chianti?

It took me a while to understand what my taste buds loved most about Chianti. All bottles and brands are NOT created equal, as I’ve recently learned when a co-worker introduced me to my new obsession, Melo Trattoria, an Italian restaurant owned by a couple who I intend to interview for you all in the upcoming months. The first glass I consumed left my mouth feeling dry. Since I’m a dessert wine girl, this wasn’t a good sign. But I’m also obsessed with anything Italian; so I knew that with patience, I’d eventually acquire the taste. Didn’t happen at first. Chianti is 70% of Sangiovese, 15% Canaiolo and 15% Malvasia bianca. I have learned over the past decade since I’ve been tasting different variations that not all of these grapes are created or rather mixed equally. I’m not a professional wine girl. I can tell you that my taste buds know how to tell the difference between the dry Chiantis  and the fruitier versions. I’d like to introduce you to three of my favorites. And yes! Each one of these gorgeous bottles of Italian essence costs less than 20 bucks!

Candidate #1 : Full bodied & Fruity. Plus the bottle is gorgeous. I still have 3 of these sitting on top of my cabinets.

DaVinci Chianti

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Candidate #2: Bellaggio Chianti

Full bodied and a less fruity than DaVinci’s version. The lover of dry red wine will appreciate both the gorgeous packaging and the wine inside it.

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Candidate #3

Gabbiano Chianti

Full-bodied, fruity and probably the closest to a dessert wine of all three candidates.

GabbianoChianti

These are three of my favorites. For more great tips on finding the perfect Chianti then visit the links below.

Links: http://guides.wsj.com/wine/buying-and-storing-wine/10-ways-to-find-a-supermarkets-best-wines/

http://www.chianti.info/historyofchiantiitaly.htm#.UwNFVcRDvfI

Images used courtesy of http://www.italianvillas.com