The Gallo Nero Chianti Classico consortium of winemakers have accused restaurants and wine bars of unreasonably putting up prices by as much as 500% in some cases.
Chianti classico suffered a 5% drop in sales last year.
Baron Giovannie Ricasoli Firdolfi, the consortium's president, said he frequently saw his own chianti classico on sale in restaurants for Eu32 (£21.44) when he sold it to the trade for Eu8.30 (£5.56).
The Daily Telegraph 20/03/04 page 18