Calabria

The region (Ital. Calabria) with the capital Catanzaro lies deep in the south of Italy and forms the rugged "tip of the boot". The coast stretches over a length of 780 kilometres. The Strait of Messina, only three to eight kilometres wide, separates Calabria from the island of Sicily. It is one of the oldest wine-growing regions in Italy. As early as 1,000 BC, Greek settlers founded colonies here and in neighbouring Campania from the outpost of Sicily and called the area Oinotria. They also introduced many of their grape varieties, possibly including the ancestors of Gaglioppo, Greco Bianco and Greco Nero. According to legend, the DOC area of Cirò produced the wine of the ancient Olympic champions called Krimisa. The naturalist Andrea Bacci (1524-1600) praises a wine from Cirella in his major work; Calabria still lives on this today.

The predominantly Mediterranean climate is characterised by dry and hot summers and harsh and cold winters in the interior. Due to the positive influence of the waters (seas), there are hardly any temperature fluctuations. Viticulture plays only a minor role compared to the cultivation of citrus fruits, olives and vegetables. The vineyards cover about 9,500 hectares. The largest holdings are in the north on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea and in the south on the coast of the Ionian Sea. The traditional bush vine training Albarello (Gobelet) is widespread.

The red wine varieties that are better suited to the climate occupy 90%. The most important are Aglianico, Alicante (Garnacha Tinta), Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Calabrese (Nero d'Avola), Castiglione, Gaglioppo, Greco Nero, Magliocco Canino, Malvasia Nera di Brindisi, Marsigliana Nera (Magliocco Dolce), Merlot, Montepulciano, Nerello Cappuccio, Nerello Mascalese, Nocera, Petit Verdot, Prunesta, Sangiovese and Syrah. Important white wine varieties are Ansonica (Inzolia), Chardonnay, Greco Bianco, Guardavalle, Guarnaccia (Coda di Volpe B ianca), Malvasia Bianca di Candia, Manzoni B ianco, Montonico Bianco, Moscato Bianco (Muscat Blanc), Pinot Bianco (Pinot Blanc), Riesling Italico (Welschriesling), Sauvignon (Sauvignon Blanc), Sémillon, Traminer Aromatico (Gewürztraminer), Trebbiano Toscano, Verdicchio Bianco and Zibibo (Muscat d'Alexandrie). The IGT (country wines) and DOC and DOCG (quality wines) areas, which account for 40% of production, are

• Arghillà (IGT)
• Bivongi (DOC)
• Calabria (IGT)
• Cirò (DOC)
• Costa Viola (IGT)
• Greco di Bianco (DOC)
• Lamezia (DOC)
• Lipuda (IGT)
• Locride (IGT)
• Melissa (DOC)
• Palizzi (IGT)
• Pellaro (IGT)
• Sant'Anna di Isola Capo Rizzuto (DOC)
• Savuto (DOC)
• Scavigna (DOC)
• Scilla (IGT)
• Terre di Cosenza (DOC)
• Valdamato (IGT)
• Val di Neto (IGT)