Calabria Flashcards
Ciro DOC
Most important DOC. Handful of producers, quality starting to be recognised. Gaglioppo principal grape, produces a hefty red, more focus on small barrel ageing to produce an international style.
Ciro
Currently the only doc of any quantitative significance in the southern Italian region of calabria.
Calabria: General
Most rural & least industrialised wine region; poor infrastructure; very fragmented ownership (avg
Calabria: Climate and Climate
Mediterranean climate. Hot and dry near the coast most of the year. Winter in the interior can be cold & harsh.
Calabria: Topography and Soils
The ‘toe’ of Italy; extreme south-west peninsula. Most of the vineyards are on the eastern & western coastline.
Mountainous area with 42% mountainous, 42% hilly and only 9% plains.
Calabria: Gagliopo
Predominant red grape in Calabria
Thrives in dry conditions and reaches hi sugar levels
Calabria: Maglioco
Dark-berried grape often blended w Gaglioppo
Calabria: Other Red Wine Grapes
Aglianico, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Calabria: Greco
Believed to be of Greek origin
Tends to mature very late
Deep colour w aromas of peaches & fresh green foliage
Calabria: Other White Wine Grapes
Montonico (sweet wines) Trebbiano Toscano, Malvasia, Chardonnay
Calabria: Ciro DOC (R/W)
- Located on the eastern coast, on the foothills of La Sila massif; calcareous marl, some clay and sand
- Handful of producers w quality starting to be recognised.
- Wines are typically very tannic and full bodied w strong fruit flavours. Can be a bit prickly and acidic. Best
drunk 3-4 years after release to let the tannins soften. - Some producers are experimenting w barrique maturation to give the wine are more international style.
Calabria: Other Appellations
Pollino DOC (near Basilicata), Greco di Bianco DOC (sweet wine from the south)
Calabria: Production and Key Producers
13,000ha for 0.5m hl/yr & only 6% DOC
Librandi (2m btls) is the best producer w ‘Gravello’, a Gaglioppo-Cabernet & ‘Magno Megonio’ from Magliocco.
