The region (Calabria) with the capital Catanzaro lies deep in the south of Italy and forms the rugged "tip of the boot". The coast stretches over 780 kilometres. The Strait of Messina, which is only three to eight kilometres wide, separates Calabria from the island of Sicily. Viticulture plays only a minor role compared to the cultivation of citrus fruits, olives and vegetables.

History

It is one of the oldest wine-growing regions in Italy. As early as 1,000 BC, Greek settlers from the outpost of Sicily founded colonies here and in neighbouring Campania and called the area Oinotria. They also introduced many of their grape varieties, including possibly the ancestors of Gaglioppo, Greco Bianco and Greco Nero. According to legend, the wine of the ancient Olympic champions called Krimisa was produced in the Cirò DOC area. The naturalist Andrea Bacci (1524-1600) praised a wine from Cirella in his magnum opus; Calabria still lives from this today.

Climate & soil

The predominantly Mediterranean climate is characterised by hot, dry summers and harsh, cold winters inland. There are hardly any temperature fluctuations due to the positive influence of the waters (seas).

Grape varieties

The vineyards cover around 9,500 hectares. The vineyards are located 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, which are better suited to the climate, account for 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 Bianca), Malvasia Bianca di Candia, Manzoni Bianco, 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).

DOCG, DOC and IGT areas

The IGT (regional wines), DOC and DOCG areas (quality wines) 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)