Calabria

Kalabrien
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The region (Italian Calabria), with its capital Catanzaro is located deep in the south of Italy and is almost completely surrounded by the sea rugged "toe". The coastline extends over a length of 780 kilometers. The only three to eight kilometers wide Strait of Messina separates Calabria from the island of Sicily . It is one of the oldest wine regions of Italy. As early as 1000 BC, founded by Greek settlers from Sicily outposts here and in neighboring Campania colonies and named the area Oinotria . They also introduced many of its varieties, including possibly the ancestors of Gaglioppo, Greco Bianco and Greco Nero. According to legend, was present in the DOC area of Ciro wine of the ancient Olympic champion named Krimisa generated. The famous naturalist Andrea Andrea Bacci (1524-1600) praises in his major work, a wine from Cirella with effusive words. Of these, Calabria is still alive today.

The vineyards cover only 12 716 hectares, although a total of 35,000 hectares devoted to vineyards. The largest holdings are in the north on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea and south to the coast of the Ionian Sea. The main red varieties are Gaglioppo, Greco Nero, Barbera, Calabrese (Nero d'Avola), Nerello, Sangiovese, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. The main white grape varieties are Greco Bianco, Bianco Mantonico, Moscato, Trebbiano and Chardonnay. Even today, the traditional training system Albarello (Gobelet = bush) is widespread. To 90 percent red wine blends are often easier to produce quality. The DOC wines account for only three percent of production. Some of the DOC's are rarely used:

* Bivongi
* Ciro
* Donnici
* Greco di Bianco
* Lamezia
* Melissa
* Pollino
* Sant'Anna di Isola Capo Rizzuto
* San Vito di Luzzi
* Savuto
* Scavigna
* Verbicaro