Alcohology - "and a Nice Chianti"

Happy Halloween! Can Chianti really tango with liver and fava beans, or is that just a culinary mismatch immortalized by pop culture? Join us as we unravel this flavorful mystery, teasing the truth behind Dr. Hannibal Lecter's infamous dinner pairing in Silence of the Lambs. This episode promises to enlighten and entertain. Travel back to the 13th century Tuscany and learn how Chianti evolved from white to the rich red icon of today, boasting the robust Sangiovese grape and a distinctive Black Rooster emblem. We’ll even share the medieval legend that put this proud rooster on the map! So pour yourself a glass, and let’s toast to Chianti’s notable place in both wine history and pop culture.

Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome to Alcohology
• 0:25 Chianti
• 3:41 Outro

Transcript

Matt: 0:00

Welcome to Halloween. Alchohology. Ha ha, ha, ha, ha ha ha. I wonder why they call it a cocktail. Yes, I'd like to know more about the Avenus Vinifera. I'm very interested in the terroir. We talking about two carbon, six hydrogen and one oxygen atom. We talking about ethyl alcohol this episode Chianti.

Matt: 0:25

In the movie Silence of the Lambs, dr Hannibal Lecter, played by the incomparable Sir Anthony Hopkins, delivers the famous line A census taker once tried to test me and I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti. Here at Matt Friends, drink the Universe. We always strive to answer the most important and hard-hitting questions for you. So does Chianti actually pair well with liver and fava beans? Let's start with the history of Chianti.

Matt: 0:48

Chianti is a celebrated Italian red wine hailing from the Tuscany region of Italy and is generally made between Florence and Siena. Its production traces back to at least the 13th century, with early records indicating it was initially a white wine. The transformation to the red wine we know today began in the 18th century. In 1716, grand Duke Cosimo III of Tuscany efficiently delineated the Chianti region, establishing one of the world's earliest regulated wine zones. Chianti is predominantly made from Sangiovese grapes. The grape imparts the wine's characteristic flavors and structure reflecting the region's unique terroir. The wine is known for its medium body, bright acidity and flavors of red fruits like cherry, raspberry, often with hints of violet herbs, and sometimes earthy and rustic undertones. Chianti wines have moderate tannins and are versatile, pairing well with a variety of foods, particularly Italian cuisine dishes featuring tomatoes or rich meats.

Matt: 1:47

Chianti Classico is considered the highest quality variant, distinguished by a black rooster on the label signifying wines from the original production area. Chianti Classico must contain at least 80% Sangiovese grapes. For the other 20%, colarino, conigliolo, nerone, cabernet, sauvignon and Merlot grapes may be used. White grapes were totally banned in 2006. So what's up with the Black Rooster on the label?

Matt: 2:10

The Gallo Nero emblem of Chianti Classico stems from a medieval legend. To resolve a territorial dispute, florence and Siena agreed that two knights would ride from their respective cities at dawn, signaled by the rooster's crow. The Black Rooster representing Florence crowed first, giving the Florentine knight a head start and leading to Florence's dominance in the region. Historically, chianti was associated with squat bottles enclosed in straw baskets, known as a fiasco. Not to be confused with what normally happens during my recording sessions, this design protected the wine during transport. While less common today, the Chiasco remains a symbol of Chianti's rich heritage.

Matt: 2:46

So what became of your lamb, clarice? No, that's not the right question. Does Chianti actually pair well with fava beans and liver? I'm sorry to tell you no, it actually doesn't. As a side note, we here at Matt and Friends Drink the Universe do not condone the consumption of human liver, or any other human body parts for that matter, under any circumstances. Not condone the consumption of human liver, or any other human body parts for that matter, under any circumstances. I did, however, do some research, and the pairing of a meat like liver and fava beans would traditionally call for a heavier wine. You would want to pair animal liver, or one from a census taker that disappeared under mysterious circumstances, with something like Shiraz, cabernet, sauvignon, merlot or a full-bodied Italian wine like Barolo. Don't worry, we certainly won't be testing this pairing on any upcoming Drinkable episodes. Chianti's lighter profile makes it more ideally suitable for pasta-centric dishes, or even pizza, if you're feeling especially classy. Nonetheless, the association with Dr Lecter's famous line has cemented Chianti's place in popular culture Happy Halloween.

Matt: 3:42

This podcast is a production of Unfiltered Studios. If you would like to know more about joining Unfiltered Studios, please visit our website at unfpodcom for more information. Matt and Friends Drink the Universe is proudly sponsored by the Poppins Travel Company. Please visit our sponsor at poppinstravelcompanycom. If you enjoyed this short and want to spend more time with us, please check out our full-length episodes wherever you get your podcasts from. For more information about Matt and Friends Drink the Universe, please visit us at mattandfriendsdtucom. That's mattandfriendsdtucom.