Calabrian wine facts for kids

Calabria is a region in southern Italy

Cirò Red Wine made from Gaglioppo grapes

Calabrian wine comes from the Calabria region in southern Italy. Most of the wine made here is red wine. A special grape called Gaglioppo is used a lot. Calabria has 12 special wine areas called DOC regions. But only a small part of the wine made each year is from these special areas.

Calabria is a very rural place. It does not have many big industries. After World War II, many people from Calabria moved away. They went to northern Italy, the United States, Australia, and Argentina. Because of this, the wine industry grew slowly. Only the red wines from Cirò became famous around the world. Today, Calabrian wines often have a high alcohol level. They are often sold to other parts of Italy. These wines are then mixed with other wines. Calabria does not have any DOCG regions. But it does have 12 IGT designations.

History of Calabrian Wine

A sculpture of Milo of Croton by Pierre Puget

People first grew grapes in Calabria a very long time ago. The Oenotrians started it. Then the ancient Greeks continued. A famous Greek athlete named Milo of Croton was from this region. Stories say he drank about 10 liters of Cirò wine every day! People say that Cirò wine is still made the same way today.

Around the 1st century AD, a writer named Pliny the Elder wrote about Calabrian wine. He said it was one of the best Italian wines.

Climate and Geography of Calabria

Calabria is at the "toe" of the Italian boot. It has a Mediterranean climate. This means it has mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers. To the north are the Apennine Mountains. These mountains form the border with another region called Basilicata.

The Ionian Sea is to the east and south of Calabria. The Strait of Messina separates Calabria from Sicily. The Tyrrhenian Sea is to the west. Winters are mild, usually around 10°C. It rarely gets colder than 5°C. The coast is very hot and dry for most of the year. Most of the wine is made in the middle parts of the eastern and western coastlines.

Main Wine Regions

Cirò: Calabria's Famous Wine

The Cirò wine region is in the eastern foothills of the La Sila area. It stretches all the way to the Ionian coast. The main part of Cirò is around the towns of Cirò and Cirò Marina. These towns are in the province of Crotone. The soil here is mostly limestone and marl. It also has some clay and sand.

Most of the wines from Cirò are red. They must have at least 95% of the Gaglioppo grape. Up to 5% of white grapes like Greco bianco and Trebbiano can be added. Some Rosé and white wines are also made. These use at least 90% Greco bianco. But they are made in very small amounts. Red Cirò wine is usually very tannic. This means it can feel a bit dry in your mouth. It is also full-bodied with strong fruit flavors. It's often best to drink it 3–4 years after it's made. This gives the tannins time to soften. People say that Cirò wine was given to the winners of the ancient Olympic Games!

Other Important Wine Areas

Provinces of Calabria

Calabria has 11 other special wine regions (DOCs). Some, like Melissa and Isola di Capo Rizzuto, are near Cirò on the Ionian coast. In the far south, in the province of Reggio Calabria, are the Bianco and Bivongi regions. The western wine regions are in the provinces of Catanzaro and Cosenza.

• Bianco: This is one of the few white wine regions in Calabria. It makes sweet wines from the Greco bianco grape. These wines have at least 17% alcohol. The grapes are partly dried before they are pressed. This makes them very sweet. Greco di Bianco wine is a deep amber color. It smells like citrus fruits and herbs.
• Bivongi: This is one of Calabria's newest DOCs. It makes red and rosé wines. These are blends of grapes like Gaglioppo, Greco nero, and Nocera. A few dry white wines are also made here. They use grapes like Greco bianco and Malvasia bianca.
• Melissa: This region is south of Cirò. It makes wines that are similar in style to Cirò. However, they are not as famous. The red wines use Gaglioppo and Greco nera grapes. Some white grapes are also blended in.

Images for kids

• 

  Calabria

• 

  Vino DOP Cirò Rosso Gaglioppo (2019)

• 

  Pierre Puget's 1682 sculpture of Milo of Croton at the Louvre

• 

  Provinces of Calabria