Calabria Flashcards
Which region did ancient Greek settlers initially name “Oenotria” (“the land of vines”) when they first arrived in southern Italy?
Calabria
What crops are grown in Calabria?
Viticulture plays only a marginal role compared to other crops such as:
* citrus fruit
* olives
Name the native grapes the producers in Calabria have worked hard to show the potential of.
- Gaglioppo
- Greco Bianco
Describe the history of Calabria and ancient Greek colonization.
This region was one of the principal centers for Greek colonization in southern Italy. Among the most famous settlements were Krotos (modern-day Crotone) and Rhegion (modern-day Reggio Calabria)
How did the ancient Greeks influence Calabria?
Vineyards and wine production flourished. The wine markets of Krotos and Sibari were among the largest in southern Italy. They shipped wine throughout the Mediterranean.
Who annexed Calabria from the Greeks?
Rome, in the 3rd century BC.
How did the Romans influence Calabria?
Agricultural focus was switched to cereals and animal husbandry. Although, the wines were worthy of commentary by Pliny the Elder.
What happened to Calabria after the fall of the Roman Empire?
The region experienced a succession of invasions.
How did wine production in Calabria fair during the Middle Ages?
Little information was written during the early Middle Ages. The few documents on record intimate that the region experienced a deep viticultural decline.
But wine production seems to have rebounded by the 16th century and gathered momentum.
What kind of wine did Calabria produce during the 19th and 20th centuries?
Mainly deeply-coloured, high-alcohol bulk wine (vino da taglio).
How has wine production changed in Calabria over the past few years?
The focus has moved toward quality. Great efforts have been dedicated to researching local grapes, largely due to the pioneering work of wine producer, Librandi.
Where is Calabria located?
This region lies in the southwest of Italy and forms the tip of the Italian boot. It is almost completely surrounded by the sea. It is separated from Sicilia by the Strait of Messina.
How much of Calabria is made up of hills/mountains/plains?
- 49% Hills
- 43% Mountains
- 9% Plains
Describe the mountains in Calabria.
The Southern Apennines run down the center of the region and are divided into several sub-ranges. From north to south they are:
* Massif of Pollino
* Catena Costiera
* Sila
* Aspromonte
Where in Calabria are the hills located
Between the central mountain ranges and the coasts.
Where in Calabria are the plains located?
The plains are limited to the coastal areas and make up less than 10% of the region.
Describe the coastline of Calabria.
These vary from rocky cliffs to gravelly-sandy beaches.
Name the principal rivers of Calabria.
- Crati River
- Neto River
There are many rivers that flow down from the central mountain ranges to empty into both seas, but they are short and with limited flow.
What is the climate in Calabria?
Mediterranean on the coast.
Mediterranean with continental influences inland.
How much rainfall does Calabria receive?
It is abundant in the mountainous interior and significantly lower on the coasts.
The Ionean coast is the driest, but still receives a good amount of precipitation.
What soils are found in Calabria?
Soils are diverse. They vary from sandy gravels and clays of marine origin on the hills of the Ionian coast to alluvial soils found on the plains.
In the northern region, soils are composed of limestone, sandstone and sandy gravels, all of marine origin.
How much of the area under vine in Calabria is devoted to red grape varieties?
Almost 90%.
Which variety is featured in most of the DOC reds of the region and makes up more than half of the area under vine in Calabria?
Gaglioppo; the region’s signature grape.
Why is Calabria one of the most confusing listings of grape varieties in Italy?
Calabrians use the same name for different grapes and different names for the same grape throughout the region.
Rank the grape varieties grown in Calabria from most to least widely planted.
- Gaglioppo (55%)
- Magliocco (7%)
- Nerello Cappuccio (6%)
- Greco Bianco (4%)
- Greco Nero (3%)
- Sangiovese (3%)
Others (22%)
Name the native and traditional red varieties of Calabria.
- Gaglioppo
- Magliocco
Others:
* Nerello Cappuccio
* Greco Nero
What is the history of the Gaglioppo variety?
This is one of the most ancient red grapes in all of Italy. It was first mentioned in the 13th century.
The grape is believed to be native to Calabria, but the name seems to be of Greek origin.
Today, this grape is widely grown throughout Calabria.
