With a wine-growing history dating back a good 3,000 years, Calabria, the rugged tip of the "boot" with its 780 kilometers of coastline, is one of the oldest wine-growing regions in Italy. Far from the large industrial settlements, Calabria is a region dominated by agriculture where people, unless they have moved to the big cities, struggle to make money.
Surrounded by the sea, the climate is very favourable for viticulture with its Mediterranean character. The approximately 25,000 hectares of vineyards are distributed along the northern coast on the Tyrrhenian Sea as well as the southern coastal areas on the Ionian Sea. Some of the vineyards are expressly designated as hillside. The interest in wine from Calabria has been so low historically that some origins have virtually disappeared from the map. Today, thanks to the dedicated work of the producer Librandi, the wines of Calabria are once again attracting increasing interest.
The main grape variety for red wine is the native Gaglioppo. However, as interest in the wines of southern Italy grows, so does the Magliocco variety. White wines are usually made from the Greco variety. Because of the warm and mild climate, some producers also experiment with international varieties such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.
The ageing of wines in small oak barrels according to international standards is also of increasing interest.
