The prestigious Black Rooster wine-tasting event made its much-anticipated return to Florence, this time with a strong focus on environmental sustainability. Held February 17th and 18th, 2025, the 32nd Chianti Classico Collection welcomed guests to the historic Stazione Leopolda. This year’s event saw record-breaking participation, with 218 Black Rooster wineries presenting their latest vintages to media, industry professionals, and—new for this year—offering select wines for purchase to the public.
The central theme of the 2025 Collection was sustainability, underscoring the region’s dedication to an eco-conscious future. This vision came to life through an installation in the Leopolda hall, showcasing live melliferous plants that symbolize the biodiversity of the Black Rooster vineyards. The event also embraced eco-friendly practices by incorporating recycled materials, such as pressed cardboard seating in the foyer and organic cotton tote bags, while actively reducing plastic and paper waste. Even the catering followed a zero-waste philosophy, donating surplus food to the Villa Lorenzi solidarity project.
The event’s scale highlighted its growing significance, featuring 790 wine labels available for tasting, including 194 Chianti Classico Riserva, 185 Gran Selezione, and 40 preview samples of the 2024 vintage. The Chianti Classico Collection continues to celebrate the richness and diversity of this world-renowned wine region.
This year marked two important milestones for Chianti Classico DOP Olive Oil: the 50th anniversary of its Consorzio and the 25th anniversary of the denomination. Attendees could explore a tasting counter featuring 35 premium olive oils and engage in a seminar with guided tastings, celebrating this exceptional product.
As part of the Collection, the Tuscan Wine and Food Press Association (ASET) hosted a convention commemorating the centennial of Giulio Gambelli, the legendary wine taster. During this event, the Giulio Gambelli Award was presented to a young winemaker whose work best reflected Gambelli’s philosophy over the past year.
This year’s new additions included guided wine tours led by esteemed experts such as Fabio Ceccarelli, Riccardo Margheri, Leonardo Romanelli, and Valentino Tesi. A notable highlight was the introduction of public access on Tuesday, allowing wine enthusiasts to purchase select Chianti Classico labels and popular Black Rooster merchandise.
The event also continued its partnerships with iconic Italian food and wine brands, including Parmigiano Reggiano DOP, Pomodoro di Pachino IGP, and Aceto Balsamico di Modena IGP. This culinary celebration was the perfect complement to the wines of Chianti Classico, which remained the star attraction.
Once again, the Chianti Classico Collection showcased the passion and excellence that define this remarkable wine region, bringing together producers, experts, and enthusiasts in a celebration of Italy’s heritage and craftsmanship.
Filippo Magnani