Calabria wines

Calabria Wines

There are many good wines that are produced by the region of Calabria in the south of Italy. Calabria being situated in the “toe” of Italy means that due to its location and having the typical Mediterranean climate it possible to produce many different varieties of wines. However becaue of the terrain not whole of Calabria province produces wine but is manily concentrated in the eastern and western coastlines.

It is believed that Milo, a Greek athlete who came from Calabria is said to have drunk ten liters of wine a day to keep him hydrated! The way of producing wines during his time is said to be practice up to the present, many of the traditional methods have not changed, with some of the vineyards dating back to their Greek colonization.

However, the region is slow to develop a strong wine industry, however the red wines from Ciro stand out internationally as many Calabrian Wines get consumed at home.

Ciro wines are the most famous of all Calabrian wines. They are produced in the province of Crotone and is centered on Ciro and Ciro Marina municipalities. Wines produced are predominantly red due to the use of 95% of Gaglioppo grapes. Other grape classes such as Trebbiano and Greco bianco, which produce white-colored wines, are only limited in production. Ciro red wines have strong fruit taste and is said to be given to the winners of the ancient Olympics.

Aside from Ciro, there are eleven DOC or Denominazione di origine controllata region that produces Calabrian wines. Donnici produces some famous wines too. Bianco produces the sweetest wine from Greco bianco. Biyongi is one of the newest DOC. Lamezia Terme has a very fertile soil that produces good grapes and that are possible to have strong alcoholic content.

Meanwhile Savuto has cool lands that produce grapes with lower alcohol levels.

The remaining six DOC areas include Melissa, Isola di Capo Rizzuto, Pollino, San Vito di Luzzi, Scavigna and Verbicaro.