Wine: the red gold of Calabria

The attention that has been awakening in Calabria over recent months is a positive fact: great foreign newspapers, prestigious national weekly, excellent television networks, transoceanic organizations etc etc speak of so many things but in particular of our red gold, that is, the wine.

Key journalists - such as tourism and food and wine - have been involved, and with the wide range of food and wine, tourism and culture, Calabria is slowly moving back to the international media system.

We will see, however, whether it will now also begin to penetrate the main commercial and touristic markets (ie contracts and attendance), which is then the most important thing beyond the improvement of our overall image.

For decades, a turning point has been invoked in the wine sector: here entrepreneurs are flourishing, with passion and taste, with intelligence and research. Now Calabria, along with its best labels, brings its history, culture, food and wine excellence and its territories: its coasts, its mountains with its three national parks, as well as its inner and rural areas, with its A heritage of uncontaminated landscapes and ancient traditions.

In the recent Vinitaly of Verona, Calabria has in particular presented its oenological offer, rich in history and tradition, but also of innovation, refinement of oenological knowledge and deepening of new techniques. We are no longer in the dilettantism of the past few decades.

In fact, wines that boast a unique history, a decisive character and an inimitable taste, thanks to the characteristics of the land and the climate are particularly welcome. The quality of Calabrian wines is growing thanks to the passion of young farmers and old farmers who, through the search for the best national oenologists, are improving genetic varieties and enhancing native grape varieties.

In 2016 Calabrian wines have been awarded numerous awards both at national and international level. In addition, in Calabria, organic production (+ 2.5% compared to the previous year, according to Sinab data, as at 31/12/2015) increased in Calabria last year. Today, Calabria boasts 350 indigenous vineyards preserved over time thanks to the isolation of the inner areas, with 12,000 hectares of vineyards and a production of 400 thousand hectoliters of wine per year, of which 70% red and 30% white. About 10 million bottles produced, of which 15% are exported to the overseas market.

Calabrian indigenous vines produce many varieties of wine, including nine with DOP certification and nine with IGP denomination. The great heritage in Calabria includes vines such as Gaglioppo, Sweet Magliocco, Black Greco and emerging white berries such as Mantonico, Pecorello and also Guardavalle, White Greek, which are affecting both national and international markets For their originality.

The public and private objective can not, therefore, be to enhance and enhance this great wine-growing industry. In addition to the interventions envisaged by the Rural Development Program 2014/2020, which aims to enhance competitiveness, innovation in the sector and employment growth, especially young people, the sub-fund must be supported through promotion on third markets , Restructuring and reconversion of vineyards, investments and green harvesting.

In short, even here something is moving after years and years of gray, but there is a great deal to be done. Conclusion: Is It All Right? No, of course. There are still mistakes, stretch marks, provincialisms, dysfunction, laziness, territorial egoisms, sometimes improvisations, but the road - there is no doubt - that's what must be pursued by correcting what's wrong.