No products in the cart.

Black Rooster: the symbol of Chianti Classico Consortium

Black Rooster: the symbol of Chianti Classico Consortium

The Black Rooster: symbol of the Chianti Classico for 300 years

From the League of Chianti to the Consortium, in 2016 the Black Rooster turns 300 years old. It has always been the symbol for a proud land that strives for excellence in wine. The rooster has always fascinated humans: its aggressiveness, vigor, fantastic feathers, and proverbial sound have found their way into literary folklore, symbolism, alchemy and even into technology.

In ancient times, it was believed that the pre-dawn call of the rooster scared away the evil spirits of the night, when such demons have traditionally been most active, and signaled the arrival and safety of the sun.

Many religions, both ancient and modern, have stories or other aspects tied to the rooster. In Greek paganism, the rooster was consecrated to the sun god Apollo and Mercury assumed the form of a rooster as the guide for souls.

In Indian mythology, roosters are identified with the sun, whereas in Christianity, roosters are symbols of the resurrection and of the moment when Jesus reminds Peter that he will betray him. Perhaps these “spiritual” precedents contributed to the legend of the Black Rooster, the symbol that has always distinguished Chianti Classico.

The black rooster as a symbol of the Military League of Chianti

The Black Rooster was a historic symbol of the old Military League of Chianti. Initially, it only symbolized the specific “Gallo Nero” area, but soon the symbol became representative of the entire region of Chianti.

In 2005 the symbol was adopted from the Chianti Classico Consortium founded in 1924 in Radda in Chianti as a reaction of producers to a decree that essentially punished Chianti, negating the link between the denominations and geographical origins. The Consortium goal is the protection, promotion and development of the Chianti territory according to the borders defined in 1716.

The legend of the Black Rooster

During the medieval ages when Florence and Siena constantly fought over the Chianti area. The two cities became fed up with the constant battling and decided to resolve the dispute with a very interesting idea: they would choose a knight each, and the moment the knights heard the call of the rooster at daybreak, they were to ride out towards each other. Where they met, the territorial borders were to be defined.

Apparently, the idea was to divide the territory more or less 50/50 and then stop the dispute. And if the two knights had departed at the same hour, they would indeed have met halfway.

But things did not go exactly as both parties had planned. The Sienese chose a white rooster and fed him well on the day before, so that he’d awaken cheerfully, bright and early the next morning. The Florentines chose a black rooster that they starved and, upset and hungry, it began cawing much earlier than sunrise.

The florentine knight heard and left before his competitor, thus covering much more ground before meeting the other knight at the Castle of Fonterutoli, in Castellina in Chianti. Here, they signed the pact of peace and fixed the borders of their respective Tuscan territories—just a few kilometers from Siena.

In remembrance of this legend, the wine produced in this region was symbolized with the black rooster that allowed the region to own the land that makes their famous wine.

The story, likely not historically accurate, explains the reason for which Florence was able to take control of the greater part of Chianti territory over their rival, almost up to Siena’s doorstep; Siena then fell under Cosimo I de’ Medici many years later in 1555.

The first Black Rooster

The first “public” appearance of the Black Rooster was in 1384, when the Republic of Marzocco created the League of Chianti, a sort of anti-Siena political-military pact that united a league of rural towns corresponding to the modern-day municipalities of Castellina in Chianti, Gaiole in Chianti, and Radda in Chianti.

This Black Rooster with its red crest was found inside a caramel-colored shield against a golden-yellow background with diagonal cuts.

Il Putto: the rival of the Black Rooster

The borders between Siena and Florence in the Chianti region were determined in 1932 by a ministerial decree. And as with the hero of any story, even the Black Rooster has its rival.

The Putto, the symbol of a consortium created in 1927 to counter the monopoly of associations in Radda after adopting a policy of broader territorial delimitation and adhering to the one sanctioned by market practices.

Contact Principe Corsini

The Principe Corsini winery produces organic and vegan wine and oil in the estates of Villa Le Corti and La Marsiliana.

Contact us for more information!

Contact us

Read also

Chianti tour: from Villa Le Corti a three-day itin ...

Fico: organic and vegan wine from an idea of Filip ...

Barbecue at Osteria Le Corti to celebrate grape ha ...

Receive a -20% voucher
Subscribe to our Newsletter

Insert your mail to subscribe to our newsletter and receive a -20% voucher for your first order!