The best wines of Calabria

History and Territory

The origins of Calabria wine date back to ancient times. This region was part of ancient Enotria, an area comprising Calabria, Basilicata and Campania, inhabited since the 11th century BC by peoples of Indo-European origin, probably from Greece. Enotria derives from the Greek word οἶνος, wine, underlining the ancient wine vocation of this area. During the Greek migrations in the 8th century B.C., the city of Krimisa, today's Cirò, was founded, as well as many other trading ports along the Calabrian coast, including Sibari, Crotone, Locri and Metauros. The Greek colonists enriched the local customs related to vine cultivation with their knowledge and experience in the field of viticulture, which is still used today in all Mediterranean countries with hot and dry climates. The tradition of wine-growing spread even in Roman times, surviving in later centuries in monasteries, where vines were cultivated for liturgical use, and in the countryside with wine-making in ancient wine-presses dug into the rock. After the crisis at the end of the 19th century, caused by phylloxera, Calabria renewed its vineyards with American vine rootstocks. Unlike other Italian regions, Calabria maintained its ancient autochthonous vines, remaining faithful to tradition.

The indigenous grape varieties of Calabria

Calabria has a vast heritage of indigenous grape varieties, still cultivated today to make the most important regional wines. Among the white grapes, Mantonico, which produces intense and long-lived wines, Greco di Bianco, used for passito wines, Pecorello bianco, Guarnaccia bianca, Malvasia and Guardavalle stand out. Red grapes include Gaglioppo, from which the famous Cirò Rosso derives, and other grapes such as Magliocco, Magliocco Canino, Greco Nero, Nerello and Castiglione. The Librandi winery is conducting valuable research into ancient varieties in the old vineyards and a selection of Gaglioppo clones to complete the ampelographic panorama.

Calabrian wines

Calabrian wine, famous for its excellent quality since ancient times, has experienced a real renaissance in recent decades. In the past, it was sold loose to be used as a blending wine, but today the situation has changed. Many wineries bottle the wine directly and, thanks to agronomic improvements and shrewd choices, high quality grapes are obtained to produce great wines. Calabria has achieved important goals, but still has room for improvement, which will allow it to progress in the near future.

Discover the best Calabrian wines on xtraWine! Whites, reds, passiti: a range of excellent wines, with an excellent quality-price ratio. A millenary tradition that has preserved autochthonous vines with extraordinary qualities, yet to be enhanced. Choose your favourite wines and receive them safely and conveniently at home.