Calabria [kah-LAH-bree-uh]
A wine region positioned in the “toe” of Italy’s boot-shaped land mass. This beautiful, mountainous region is still quite antiquated in terms of winemaking technology and generally produces mediocre wine. Calabria has twelve DOCs, the best known being Cirò, Greco di bianco, and Melissa. Others are Bivongi, Donnici, Lamezia, Pollino, San Vito di Luzzi, Sant’Anna di Isola Capo Rizzuto, Savuto, Scavigna, and Verbicaro. There are about 60,000 vineyard acres. The primary grapes here are Gaglioppo and Marsigliana for red and rosé wines and greco for white wines.
The New Wine Lovers Companion, 2nd Edition, by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst. Copyright © (1) 2003, 1995 by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst. Reprinted by arrangement with Barron's Educational Series, Inc.