Blog: Librandi · Calabria

On the southern Gulf of Taranto, in the midst of the unspoiled nature of Calabria, on the outskirts of Cirò Marina, a sunny place on the Calabrian coast near Punta Alice, the Librandi family winery is located. Hugh Johnson describes the winery, which has always been at the forefront of Calabrian viticulture, as a 'top producer and pioneer in the harnessing of Calabrian grape varieties'.

The success story 'made in Calabria', which has now lasted four generations, began at the time with the founding father Antonio Librandi. He built the first irrigation ditches through his vineyards to supply the vines with sufficient water. In doing so, he also laid the foundation for quality viticulture in the area. Librandi's pioneering role in Calabria is also due to its forward-thinking collaboration with various research institutes and the commitment of oenologist Donato Lanati. He teaches as a professor at the Universities of Turin and Florence and is in demand throughout Italy as an oenological consultant at various wineries.

The vineyards, a total of 230 hectares, benefit from the high number of hours of sunshine here in the south of Italy, as well as from the high variations between day and night temperatures, thanks to the excellent exposure between the Mediterranean Sea and the Silas Mountains. As a reminiscence of this Mediterranean location between sun and sea, an agave adorns the labels of Librandi. In this unique microclimate, both native varieties such as Gaglioppo, Magliocco, Montanico or Greco Bianco and international varieties such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc or Cabernet Franc find the best conditions. They consistently produce full-bodied, fruit-driven wines with an excellent price-performance ratio. The white wines in particular surprise with a freshness and effervescence that one would hardly expect so far south.

Antonio Librandi introduced quality viticulture when he laid the first irrigation ditches through his vineyards to provide the vines with sufficient water. In addition, Librandi's pioneering role in Calabria is also due to the forward-thinking collaboration with research institutes and the commitment of oenologist Donato Lanati, who holds a professorship at the Universities of Turin and Florence, among others, and is in demand throughout Italy as an oenological consultant to various wineries. - Gerardo [TS06/22]