Calabria is located at the 'toe' of the Italian peninsula and is characterized by its Mediterranean climate. To the north is the Apennine Mountains forming the border with Basilicata and the Ionian Sea forms the eastern and southern borders. To the west is the Straight of Messina which separates, only just, Calabria from Sicily.
Calabria's best known wine region is Cirò, extending from the Ionian coast to
the eastern foothills of La Sila with the classico zone centred around Cirò and
Cirò Marina in the province of Crotone.
Here, Gaglioppo is king. One of
Italy's oldest varieties, recent DNA studies have found that Gaglioppo is a
natural crossing of Sangiovese and Mantonico. The name Gaglioppo is derived from
a Greek word meaning 'beautiful foot', owing to its cherubic and plump ripe
bunches.
Gaglioppo is a low colour variety and the wines often have an orange tinge, a
factor that has, in the past, seen the wines blended with darker varieties such
as Cabernet and Merlot. However, with renewed interest in Italy's native grapes,
Gaglioppo is taking centre stage and might just be the next Nerello. Ian D'Agata
writes in Native Wine Grapes of Italy that "the best examples of Ciro or any
monovarietal Gaglioppo wine, exude aromas of small red berries and citrus zest,
with mineral and delicate underbrush notes that are not unlike a lighter, more
saline Nebbiolo wine".