Calabria

Calabria (Calabria) – wine region of southern Italy, in fact, which is a Peninsula, washed by the Ionian and Tyrrhenian seas. From Sicily it is separated by the narrow Strait of Messina, and from the neighboring Basilicata – southern peaks of the Apennines.

Calabria and its wine for centuries were under a different kind of influence. Especially noticeable was the Greek that the Greeks began to cultivate grapes here, suitable for winemaking. In subsequent centuries, the wine of Calabria was known not only in Italy but in other European States.

His popularity began to fall under the onslaught of competition from the French regions, in particular Bordeaux. Among other things, the French were closer (geographically and culturally) to the key markets: London and Amsterdam. The situation worsened in the late 19th century when the phylloxera epidemic almost wiped out the Calabrian wine industry. In addition, at the end of the 20th century from regions of the New world began to receive significant amounts of affordable quality wines. Thus, the wine of Calabria has still not regained their positions.

Calabria is a rural region. The local economy relies on grain, citrus, and olives. Viticulture and winemaking are not the most important sector of the local economy, as they were centuries ago. In 2010, under the vines was occupied for only about 30 thousand hectares.

The Calabrian landscape is mainly mountainous. For this reason, the land here is very fragmented and the area of vineyards scattered around. To make wine without effective cooperation in such conditions is unreasonably expensive: the purchase and maintenance of modern equipment are for small owners a burden.

The appellations

Despite the alarming situation, in Calabria, there are 9 zones (appellations) status DOC. And not a single DOCG. Moreover, the wine under the labels of DOC accounts for only five per cent of the total output of wine in the region. The fact is that the strict requirements of the regulations are not kompensiruet the price that you can get for that wine, and observe it has no special economic meaning.

The oldest and most valued by the appellation of Calabria is a Ciro (between cirò DOC). Unfortunately, this is the only local wine that maintained the reputation in the 20th and early 21st century, is the only clear evidence of the potential of the region. Especially convincing looks the wine Ciro Rosso Riserva.

Others somehow notable wine Calabria can be called Greco di Bianco (Greco di Bianco) – sweet white wine made from dried grapes from the vineyards of the communes of Bianco in the South-East coast. Variety is Greco Bianco (Greco Bianco), from which it is produced, differs markedly from varieties Greco from Campania, which often creates confusion.

To the rest of DOCам Calabria wine world remains indifferent. But there is hope for change, given the mobility of consumer preferences and initiatives of the wine regulators.

Six of the remaining little-known appellations located in the West of the region around the valley of Kratie (Crati), between the Pollino (Pollino) in the North and Lamezia (Lamezia) to the South.

On the slopes Northwest of here the vineyards are quite interesting white wines of Verbicaro (Verbicaro). This subregion appellation Terre di Cosenza DOC (Terre di Cosenza) delivers a wine that can revive the shattered reputation of Calabria.

Between Ciro (Ciro) and Bianco (Bianco), along the Eastern coast, is Bivongi (in bivongi), Melissa (Melissa) and tiny coastal DOC S. Anna di Isola di Capo (Santa Anna di Isola di Capo).

Varieties

Almost all these areas a preference for the red varieties, galoppo (Gaglioppo) and Greco Nero (Greco Nero). Lead among white Greco Bianco (Greco Bianco), Trebbiano Toscano (Toscano Trebbiano) and Malvasia Bianca (Malvasia Bianca).

Sicilian varieties like red nerello mascalese (Nerello Mascalese) and nerello cappuccio (Nerello Cappuccio), and white ansonica (Ansonica) are gaining increasing popularity owing to the good compatibility with the terroir of Calabria.

As in the whole of the South of Italy, where a noticeable increase in the use of international varieties like Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. Typically, these wines are made in monosortovom performance, making the name varieties on the label, making them more understandable to foreign consumers, building up their character and style from the typical wines of Calabria.