Cirò Rosso

The Prestigious Winemaking History of Calabria and Ciro Rosso

There is not a single book or text that does not mention the thousand-year-old tradition that links this land to viticulture. It is enough to think of the name 'Enotria', translated as 'land of wine', by which the first Greek settlers referred to these lush lands. In historic Ancient Greece, Cirò Rosso, a traditional gift presented to the winners of the Olympics, also played a celebratory and successful role. The tables of Heraclea, which have been preserved up to the present day, also testify to the prestigious value of this land; in those days, in fact, a plot of vines was worth as much as six fields of cereals. The Greeks, in addition, helped to spread new techniques and to cover the area with new vineyards, including Gaglioppo. This gave birth to the red wine 'Krimisa', which is probably the ancestor of the modern type. This emphasises the fact that this region has had all the potential, since ancient times, to become one of the most symbolic stars of the Italian wine scene. The region's immense geographical heritage can be observed by looking at a map: the tip of the boot is surrounded by two seas, the Ionian to the south and the Tyrrhenian to the north. At the same time, it is intersected at the centre by rugged mountains that run from north to south through the beautiful national parks of Pollino, Sila and Aspromonte. The climate is Mediterranean, hot and dry, softened by sea and mountain breezes. The sandy soils, sometimes clayey and calcareous, are covered by a surprising and diverse quantity of vines, which perhaps not even Sardinia or Campania can boast. Only this wine variety, with its warm and gritty profile, has managed to establish itself beyond the region thanks to historical producers, such as the Librandi winery, who have allowed it to emerge from the typically Calabrian shell of pride and passivity, contributing to its widespread presence on the market.

Gaglioppo: the Wonderful Mediterranean Grape

This variety is one of the most symbolic of the whole Calabrian wine-growing region and, in the municipalities along the Ionian coast, north of Crotone, it produces the famous Cirò Rosso Classico. This is a variety that smells like the sea, with a warm and sunny character, like the scorching Mediterranean sun, and a vigorous and intense body. Its personality becomes even more distinctive and stern when it is aged in wood for a minimum period of two years, earning it the title of Ciro Rosso Riserva. The grape bunches have a small, spherical berry, which is covered by a thick black-purple skin. This vine, from which several Calabrian wines are made, has been the focus of many researchers' studies in recent years. They have selected the different biotypes, grown them in plants on particular drought-prone soils and isolated the clones with the best characteristics depending on the type of soil. This study marked the beginning of a road to quality research and progressive improvement with the objective, in the near future, of achieving the qualitative heights that this red wine deserves.

A Wealth of Pairings

This type of red wine goes very well with an infinite number of dishes of the rich and Mediterranean cuisine of Calabria. It is particularly suitable for pairing with meat dishes and is a perfect accompaniment to the rustic and flavoursome cuisine of this region. In its most direct and youthful version, it is best served as an aperitif by the sea, with plenty of "pane di cerchiara" bread, accompanied by a board of Calabrian soppressata, spicy sausage, caciocavallo silano, sardines, dried tomatoes and pickles. Alternatively, it can also be served with pasta dishes such as pasta with meatballs (known as "purpetti"), spaghetti with garlic, oil and chilli pepper (strictly the diavolicchio type), baked lasagne, scialatielli with tropea onions or the classic pasta fileja with 'nduja pesto. More intense and robust interpretations can be enjoyed with more demanding and richer dishes, such as a cut of grilled capocollo, stocco di mammola (made with stockfish, potatoes, onions, olives and peppers), smoked ricotta, baked stuffed peppers and lamb chops with potatoes.

So, what are you waiting for? Discover Cirò Rosso wine for sale online on the Callmewine store at an unbeatable price and impress your guests by pairing it with a tasty dish of Calabrian cuisine!