Tasting Notes:

100% Gaglioppo from 'vigneto Franza' in Contrada Franza, land that has been in the Scala family since the 17th century.

Planted in 1965 on clay and sandy soils, the climate is hot and dry but the Ionian has a moderating influence, bringing cooler temperatures at night.

Gaglioppo might be light in colour but it is big in tannins so at Scala they age they wine for up to three years in large underground cement tanks.

Reddish with a brick tinge, the nose is a little wild with berry fruit and floral notes plus spices, meat, leather and liquorice.

Ruby-red colour, powerful and persistent fragrance.

The palate is medium bodied with a sweet core of fruit and dusty tannins.

Well-balanced and harmonic flavour with an evident typical note of Gaglioppo.

About the Region of Cirò, Calabria:

Calabria is located at the 'toe' of the Italian peninsula and is characterized by its Mediterranean climate. To the north is the Apennine Mountains forming the border with Basilicata and the Ionian Sea forms the eastern and southern borders. To the west is the Straight of Messina which separates, only just, Calabria from Sicily.

Calabria’s best known wine region is Cirò, extending from the Ionian coast to the eastern foothills of La Sila with the classico zone centred around Cirò and Cirò Marina in the province of Crotone. Here, Gaglioppo is king. One of Italy’s oldest varieties, recent DNA studies have found that Gaglioppo is a natural crossing of Sangiovese and Mantonico. The name Gaglioppo is derived from a Greek word meaning ‘beautiful foot’, owing to its cherubic and plump ripe bunches.

Gaglioppo is a low colour variety and the wines often have an orange tinge, a factor that has, in the past, seen the wines blended with darker varieties such as Cabernet and Merlot. However, with renewed interest in Italy’s native grapes, Gaglioppo is taking centre stage and might just be the next Nerello. Ian D’Agata writes in Native Wine Grapes of Italy that “the best examples of Ciro or any monovarietal Gaglioppo wine, exude aromas of small red berries and citrus zest, with mineral and delicate underbrush notes that are not unlike a lighter, more saline Nebbiolo wine”.