Calabria

Regional detail

Location

The last outpost of the Italian mainland before the African continent – Italy's "toe". It is a deceivingly long region from north to south and has a distinctive wild feeling possibily due to its geographical remoteness but also because of its famous mountainous landscapes of ther Sila and Aspromonte massifs where snow is a regular occurrence. Surrounded by the two seas of the Tyrrhenian and Ionian, Calabria was once a prime spot for ancient Greeks to colonize, in fact they named it Enotria (subsequently extended to the rest of Italy) giving credence to its historial perfect conditions for viticulture.

Climate

Meditteranean but also infuenced by extremes of altitude of the Sila and Aspromonte mountain ranges and the two seas of the Tyrrhenian and Ionian. The mountains give Calabria an enviable resource in terms of agriculture which is the abundance of water, vital in the Italian arid summers.

Topography

Extremely mountainous with poor soils, although in terms of viticulture not a lot happens in these areas. Most viticulture takes place at lower altitudes nearer the two seas of the Tyrrhenian and the Ionian.

Soils

Very mixed on the plains, fertile and rich. Very poor on the the steep mountain sides, making agriculture vitually impossible.

Average annual production

less than 500,000 HL
Calabria Placeholder
Calabria

Grapes

Ansonica

Description

See Sicily

Principle Wines

See Sicily
Calabrese

Description

Aka Nero d’Avola – see Sicily

Principle Wines

Aka Nero d’Avola – see Sicily
Castiglione

Description

Rarely found as a varietal wine, but blended mostly in the southern most province of Reggio Calabria. Dark colour and high acidity – origins Spanish?

Principle Wines

Bivongi blend
Gaglioppo

Description

Most Calabrians believe this to be f Greek origin, however, most pundits state a distinct lack of evidence for this and a coincidence that it is found in literature only after Phylloxera. It has an uncanny resemblance to Nebbiolo – lacking in colour but an abundance of tannin and acid … but alas none of the wines have the same charm. Some say it resembles Frappato. However, until Gaglioppo can claim world or even national acclaim to quality, real investigations will be limited. AKA Montonico Nero

Principle Wines

Ciro
Greco Bianco

Description

There may well be some relation to the Campanian Greco other than name but the Calabrian Greco produces very different style wines. Indeed, there is some difference in the Greco Bianco Ciro and the Greco Bianco of Greco di Bianco (confusingly the Bianco part being the name of a town – typical!). The Ciro producers maintain their Greco to be high yielding and therefore needing alberello vines to be of quality. Most producers would ultimately prefer to work with the Greco di Bianco variety with comes from the province of Reggio Calabria in the far south.

Principle Wines

Ciro, Greco di Bianco
Greco Nero

Description

Aka Maglioccone and/or Marsigliana. This is planted extensively around Calabria and is usually blended making a more juicy component to the challenging Gaglioppo.

Principle Wines

Bivongi, Donnici, Lamezia
Guardavalle

Description

Aka Uva Greca. This white grape is usually blended with other local grapes. Found especially in the far south in the province of Reggio Calabria

Principle Wines

Bivongi
Guarnaccia

Description

Quite rare white grape usually blended with others. Found in the Northern part of Calabria on the borders of Camapnia. Said to be of Sicilian origin

Principle Wines

Pollino, Verbicaro
Magliocco

Description

Originally thought to be a synonym for Gaglioppo but after Librandi carried out tests, it has been shown that it is in fact quite different. Magliocco ripens later and produces a sturdier wine.

Principle Wines

Savuto, Lamezia
Mantonico

Description

.. or Montonico .. or Montonico Bianco is not related to Montonico Nero which is a synonym for Galioppo. This white variety produces outstanding passito/ dessert wine especially around the area of Bianco in the province of Reggio Calabria

Principle Wines

Greco di Bianco
Nerello Cappuccio

Description

See Sicily

Principle Wines

See Sicily
Nerello Mascalese

Description

See Sicily

Principle Wines

See Sicily
Pecorello

Description

Widley planted white grape in the whole of the Calabria but used mostly in a blend adding freshness and good levels of acidity.

Principle Wines

Donnici

Major Appellations DOCG/DOC

Bivongi DOC (a multi DOC*)

Description

This appellation is in the south of the region, inland from the Ionian Sea. It is the only DOC of the province of Reggio Calabria and blends grapes to make a red, white and rosé.

Principle Wines

Rosso - Gaglioppo, Greco Nero, Nocera, Calabrese (aka Nero d'Avola), Castiglione, white grapes also permitted up to 15%. Bianco – Greco, Guardavalle, Montonico, Malvasia Bianca Ansonica
Cirò DOC (a multi DOC*)

Description

Perhaps Calabria's most famous wine, and one of Italy's most ancient, it where Calabria's more prestigious producers are located. On the east coast of Calabria, facing the Ionian sea which is very influential on their style.

Principle Wines

Rosso – Gaglioppo with a small addition of Greco or Trebbiano Bianco – Greco with a small addition of Trebbiano Toscano
Donnici DOC (a multi DOC*)

Description

In the North of Calabria in the province of Cosenza. Very mountainous and some of Calabria's highest vineyards located in valleys. Reds with some white grapes (mostly field blends) are permitted. Plus, whites and rosés.

Principle Wines

Rosso - Gaglioppo (aka Montonico Nero), Greco Nero, Malvasia Bianca, Pecorello, Greco Bianco. Bianco: Montonico Bianco, Greco Bianco, Malvasia Bianca, Pecorello Bianco
Greco di Bianco DOC

Description

Another confusing name to watch out for – Greco is the grape used to make this white dessert wine in the town (!) of Bianco which is located in the south of the Region in the province of Reggio Calabria. It is possibly Calabria most prestigious wine, along with all the other sublime dessert wines of Italy

Principle Wines

Greco
Lamezia DOC (a multi DOC*)

Description

Perhaps more famous for its airport, Lamezia, in the west, of Calabria, in te province of Catanzaro, makes reds, whites and rosés and a varietal Greco.

Principle Wines

Rosso: Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio,Gaglioppo, Magliocco, Greco nero, Marsigliana Bianco: Greco Bianco, Trebbiano Toscano, Malvasia Bianca,

Other Appellations DOCG/DOC

Melissa DOC (a multi DOC*)

Principle Wines

Bianco
- Greco Bianco,Trebbiano Toscano, Malvasia Bianca,
Rosso
- Gaglioppo, Greco Nero, Greco Bianco, Trebbiano Toscano, Malvasia Bianca
Pollino DOC

Principle Wines

Rosso
- Gaglioppo, Greco Nero, Malvasia Bianca, Montonico Bianco, Guarnaccia Bianca
San Vito di Luzzi DOC (a multi DOC*)

Principle Wines

Rosso
- Gaglioppo, Malvasia, Greco Nero, Sangiovese.
Bianco
- Malvasia Bianca, Greco Bianco
Sant'Anna di Isola Capo Rizzuto DOC (a multi DOC*)

Principle Wines

Rosé
- Gaglioppo, Nocera, Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, Malvasia Nera, Malvasia Bianca and Greco Bianco
Savuto DOC

Principle Wines

Rosso
- Gaglioppo, Greco Nero, Nerello Cappuccio, Magliocco Ganino, Sangiovese, Malvasia Bianca, Pecorino
Scavigna DOC (a multi DOC*)

Principle Wines

Rosso
- Gaglioppo, Nerello Cappuccio.
Bianco
- Trebbiano Toscano, Chardonnay, Greco Bianco, Malvasia
Verbicaro DOC (a multi DOC*)

Principle Wines

Rosso
- Gaglioppo (Guarnaccia Nera), Greco Nero, Malvasia Bianca, Guarnaccia Bianca, Greco Bianco
Bianco
- Greco Bianco, Malvasia Bianca, Guarnaccia Bianca

IGT Appellations

Lipuda
Arghilla
Calabria
Condoleo
Costa Viola
Esaro
Locride
Palizzi
Pellaro
Scilla
Val di Neto
Valdamato
Valle del Crati