Calabria

Region (Italian: Calabria) in Italy with a total vineyard area of 24.339 hectares, with the capital city of Catanzaro, is one of the oldest wine-growing regions in Italy. It is located in the deep south, and forms the tip of the Italian boot, almost completely surrounded by the ocean. Greek settlers, arriving from the forward post of Sicily, founded colonies here and in the neighbouring Campania region around 1.000 BC, and named the area Oinotria. They introduced many of their grape varieties, such as for example the ancestor of the current red Gaglioppo, which accounts for more than a quarter of the vineyard area, as well as Greco Bianco and Greco Nero. According to legend, the wine of ancient Olympic winners, called Crimisa, was produced in what is today the Cirò DOC region, which produces the best-known wine in Calabria. The famous medical doctor and naturalist Andrea Bacci (1524-1600) in his main work uses highly enthusiastic words to describe a wine from the village of Cirella. Other varieties planted today are Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Calabrese, Chardonnay, Greco Nero, several Malvasia varieties, Mantonico, Moscato varieties, Sangiovese, Riesling Italico, Riesling Renano, Sangiovese, Zibibbo and others. The old system of Albarello, or bush vines, is still widespread today. 90 per cent of the wines produced are red blends, some of them including portions of white varieties. The twelve DOV zones are :

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