Italy — wine

Calabria

Italy's southernmost mainland wine region — the 'toe' of the Italian boot — producing wines from the ancient Greek variety Gaglioppo (as Cirò Rosso DOC) and the equally ancient Greco Bianco from volcanic soils and Calabrian granite. Once dismissed as rustic, a new generation of producers is revealing Cirò's extraordinary potential for transparent, mineral red wines that recall Burgundy more than the Mezzogiorno. Calabria's wines are among Italy's most undervalued and exciting discoveries.

Year Rating Notes
2022 Outstanding Calabria vintage; Gaglioppo from volcanic soils showed extraordinary pale color and mineral transparency.
2021 Elegant vintage; the coastal Cirò sites produced Gaglioppo wines of haunting finesse and fresh acidity.
2020 Benchmark year; Luigi Viola and A'Vita produced Cirò Rosso of the highest critical recognition internationally.
2019 Outstanding vintage; natural Gaglioppo wines from the Ionian coast gained major international natural wine attention.
2018 Solid vintage; Gaglioppo's ancient heritage expressed itself with particular clarity from the volcanic granite soils.