Story: Calabria | Wine region
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Introduction and brief history
Calabria, the Italian region in the far southwest—located at the tip of the boot—looks back on one of Italy's oldest winegrowing traditions. Wine was already being cultivated here in ancient times, when Greek settlers colonized the land: Calabria was part of what was then known as “Oinotria” — the fertile wine country of the Greeks. Over the centuries, viticulture developed with varying intensity; in some periods, Calabrian wines even enjoyed an excellent reputation. Later, however, as a result of mismanagement and economic difficulties, viticulture fell by the wayside, with quality often taking a back seat to quantity. But in recent decades, a slow renaissance has been taking place: a few dedicated winemakers and smaller wineries are returning to tradition, local grape varieties, and careful vinification.

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Geographical features, climate, and wine-growing areas
Calabria stretches along the Ionian and Tyrrhenian coasts, nestled between the sea and the mountains. The landscape is characterized by partly mountainous terrain, hills, and coastal plains—the sea on two sides, mountainous areas inland. The climate is predominantly Mediterranean: hot, dry summers and mild winters dominate along the coasts, while the weather is somewhat more temperate at higher altitudes. Between the summer heat and winter humidity, the result is a typical southern Italian climate that is well suited to vines. In terms of vineyard area, Calabria is relatively small — sources cite figures between approximately 9,000 and 25,000 hectares. This relatively limited size, coupled with the heterogeneous topography, explains why viticulture here is often small-scale and organized into many independent small businesses.

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Commonly grown grape varieties and why
Red grape varieties dominate in Calabria—the wine is usually strong, spicy, and high in alcohol. Perhaps the most important grape in the region is Gaglioppo. In the famous Cirò wine-growing region, almost all red wine is made from Gaglioppo. Other indigenous grape varieties are also cultivated: Magliocco, Greco Bianco, and in some areas white grapes such as Mantonico Bianco and other local varieties. The reason for this lies in the traditional character of the region: many varieties have adapted to the local climate, soils, and warmth over centuries — they produce robust wines full of character with their own distinct profile. There have also been times when international varieties have been tried out — but the focus remains on indigenous, rare grapes that make Calabria unique.

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Noteworthy wines or wine specialties
Calabria's most famous wine comes from Cirò: the classic Cirò Rosso—often based on Gaglioppo—was once the pride of the region. Although its reputation suffered for decades, this wine is now experiencing something of a revival: high-quality Cirò wines show that the region has more to offer than simple mass-produced wine. In addition to red wines, some areas also offer white wines or rosés, for example based on Greco Bianco or Mantonico. Traditional, sweeter or more mellow wines are also particularly interesting — such as the famous Moscato di Saracena from the province of Cosenza — they demonstrate the diversity that Calabria has to offer despite the dominance of red wines. - Gerardo [TS12/25]