Cataldo Calabretta, Ciro Rosso Classico Superiore 2023

100% Gaglioppo

Calabria, Italy

Red wine made with gaglioppo grapes from hilly clay-limestone soils bush trained with yields per hectare of 5 tons in the historic Ciro DOC production zone. The grapes were harvested by hand in crates in the third week of October. Maceration for two weeks, aging in cement for 18 months. VEGAN.

Fourth generation of a family of winemakers. After graduating in Oenology and Viticulture from the University of Milan's Faculty of Agriculture and working at various wineries, Cataldo Calabretta returned to Cirò to add a new chapter to his family's history. In 2008, he decided to reclaim his grandfather's vineyards and renovate the old cellar. The estate is run according to the principles of organic farming, an ethical choice, which year after year is paying off.

No selected yeasts or activators for fermentation of any kind. In addition, minimized use of sulfites. When asked which symbol represents better their estate, the response was “L’ Arciglione” an ancient pruning tool used by the winegrowers of Cirò.

The Archilione is the keystone of the concept of “terroir” which is the sum of the land, the climate, the vines and the hand of the man, his work, responsibility and sensitivity towards the environment around him. An aratro is a tool used to bare the roots manually and fertilize the land with the field bean manure.

The territory of Cirò is, for surface and history, the most important wine-growing reality in Calabria. Vines are grown in this area since the time of the ancient Greek colonies. In fact, the place where the vineyards are cultivated today, once stood Krimisa. At the fall of the Roman Empire the vineyards were abandoned, the return of viticulture in the territory of Cirò reappears only after 550 AC, when Justinian reconquered these lands from the Visigoth domain. After that, the Basilian Fathers and people of Armenian origin gave a new drive to the wine production. In that period was founded of Ypsicron, nowadays Cirò. In the following centuries the population selected the grape varieties that suited better the terroir. One of these varieties is the Gaglioppo, which is the main grape variety of the historic production zone of Cirò DOC.