Just a half hour south of Florence in the Siena region of Tuscany, the people of Castellina have been growing grapes and making one of the world's great wines for millenia. This is the heart of Chianti Classico, mostly Sangiovese, harvested off graceful old vineyards planted to weathered sandstone and chalky marlstone soils, around the first week of October. It endures as one of the most recognizable international marques, structured, seamless and defined, its immense affinity to food makes it essential alongside all robust recipes, antipasto or good ripe cheese.