In the ancient land of Tuscany, nestled between the rival cities of Siena and Florence, lay the fertile Chianti region – a coveted prize in a centuries-old territorial feud. For generations, the animosity between the two cities had simmered beneath the Tuscan sun.
A white rooster, a black rooster and a grand horse race
Desperate to resolve once and for all the question of who rightfully owned Chianti, the leaders of both cities agreed on an unusual solution: a grand horse race. The rules were simple yet unprecedented: two riders would set off at the crowing of a rooster, one from each city, and the point where they met would mark the new boundary.
In this high-stakes contest, each city placed its hopes in a noble rooster. Siena chose a pristine white bird, symbolizing the purity of dawn and the promise of an early crow. Florence, by contrast, selected a magnificent black rooster, its lustrous feathers representing strength and nobility.
Caterina and Leonardo
Raised among the winding alleys of Siena, Caterina was a spirited young woman, known for her deep bond with animals. Her gentle hands and soothing voice could calm even the most restless creatures. She was entrusted with the care of Bianco, the white rooster whose crow would signal the Sienese rider’s start.
Beneath Caterina’s bright eyes and infectious smile lay a fierce determination to help Bianco fulfill his destiny as the city’s champion. Every day she greeted him with soft lullabies, kept him well-fed on the finest grains and herbs, and ensured he was content. She believed a happy, well-cared-for animal would follow its instincts flawlessly. Roosters crow at first light – and that was all happy Bianco had to do. Before long, he became Siena’s most pampered bird, a gleaming white mascot and a symbol of pure hope.
Across the hills in Florence, Leonardo was a skilled and enigmatic falconer, his art deeply rooted in ancient traditions. His weathered face bore the wisdom of years spent in communion with nature, as he possessed an uncanny ability to communicate with the magnificent creatures under his care. Known far and wide for his expertise, Leonardo was sought after by nobles and commoners alike to train their birds for various purposes. Now they thought he was their best hope of preparing the Florentine black rooster for the day of the race.
Despite his gruff exterior, Leonardo had a gentle heart, especially toward Nero, the black rooster. A rooster is nothing like a falcon, he often thought, as he sat in the dimly lit coop, whispering encouragement and smoothing Nero’s feathers. He sought to form a bond, knowing that triumph would depend on how well he prepared him for the decisive day.
The falconer’s gambit
As guardian of Florence’s honor, Leonardo devised a daring plan to make Nero crow earlier than his rival. To be more alert, the rooster needed to know hunger and pitch dark. He began to feed him less, waiting patiently for the day of the race.
On the eve of the contest, Leonardo stood in the fading light of dusk, gazing at the magnificent black rooster. As night fell, he led Nero to a secluded corner of the rustic coop and gently covered him with a soft cloth, plunging him into total darkness.
“My dear Nero,” he whispered, his voice a calming murmur, “you are the spirit of Florence—resilient and bold. Tomorrow, the world will hear your crow herald the dawn of our triumph.”
He knew roosters crow at first light by instinct, but this time he aimed to control that instinct to the very second. Stroking Nero’s feathers, he felt the bird’s quiet anticipation. “Patience, my friend,” he murmured. “The dawn will come soon, and your voice will pave our way to victory.”
As the night deepened, Leonardo stayed vigilant, intent on his bold plan. He wanted Nero to sense the coming day before the sun’s rays touched the land. When the first glimmers appeared on the horizon -before the mist had even begun to lift – Leonardo removed the cloth. Nero blinked into the soft glow of dawn. His comb shone like live embers as he paced restlessly, instincts sharpened by the sudden shift from pitch darkness to light.
Leonardo whispered, “Now, Nero, let your spirit rise with the dawn. The fate of Florence lies in your voice.”
At the first rays, an unstoppable force welled up in Nero. He knew what to do. From deep within came a powerful, resolute crow that shattered the morning stillness. Nero’s call rang across the hills, marking the start of the legendary race.
The race
His crow reverberated over rooftops and hills—a sound that defied the darkness he had endured and proclaimed a new chapter for Florence. The Florentines erupted in cheers, their shouts mingling with Nero’s echo. Their rider spurred his horse forward.
In those decisive moments, Leonardo’s heart pounded with both fear and elation. His gamble had worked, bending Nero’s instinct to crow early and giving Florence an invaluable lead. Over in Siena, Bianco’s serene song came later, only when the first sunbeams touched his coop.
The race surged ahead with gripping intensity, the Florentine rider galloping through the Chianti hills while the Sienese gave chase. The route was treacherous, winding through narrow trails and rugged slopes. Every stride carried the weight of history and the pride of their cities, but Nero’s early call had made the difference. In the end, the Sienese knight had ridden only 12 kilometers before meeting the Florentine in the small village of Fonterutoli, just outside Castellina in Chianti.
The black rooster on the Chianti bottle
Leonardo’s bold strategy worked to perfection, and the legend of the black rooster would be celebrated for centuries in Tuscany. Chianti became renowned for its fertile soil and perfect conditions for vineyards. Over time, its wines earned fame for exceptional quality.
In 1716, Cosimo III de’ Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, issued a decree to protect the authenticity of Chianti wine, officially defining the production area – one of the first legally protected wine regions in the world. To help buyers distinguish Chianti Classico from imitations, the Grand Duke ordered a distinctive emblem on the bottles: a black rooster, the “Gallo Nero.”
That emblem remains to this day. So next time you’re in Tuscany, you’re in the know: look for Nero on the neck of your Chianti Classico bottle.
