From the Ionian coast of Calabria, enjoy the southern charm and deep flavours of this indigenous Gaglioppo wine, blended with 10% Greco Nero. The wine is aged in wood for 12 months, plus 6 months in the bottle which helps tame the tannins and give structure. The wine displays a deep ruby colour, with a garnet rim. The complex and elegant bouquet recalls notes of ripe red fruits of currant and plum compote, delicate spices and subtle aromas of menthol, tobacco and wet forest floor.
Full bodied and dry on the palate, with marked and dusty tannins that are characteristic of the ancient Gaglioppo grape. Well structured, delicious red fruit notes, with a strong mineral streak and a savoury finish. Great pairing with substantial first and second meat based courses, especially beef and game, along with aged cheeses. A quality Gaglioppo at a great value.
La Pizzuta del Principe is located in Strongoli, on the eastern coast of Calabria, the “toe” of Italy’s boot. With a rich history dating back to 1903, the farm run by the Ranieri family has been producing oil, wine, and preserves for over a century.
In the early 1990s, Clara Ranieri and her husband Albino Bianchi, an esteemed pharmacist, established the winery with a mission to create excellent quality wines using natural methods. Today, their daughter Dorina joins them in running the company, carrying on the family legacy. Committed to the preservation of the land and area around them, the winery follows sustainable practices and has been certified organic since 2017.
The property boasts 100 hectares of land immersed in a rich plain of vineyards and olive trees surrounded by green hills. The 13 hectares of vineyard are dedicated primarily to the cultivation of indigenous varieties, Gaglioppo, Greco Nero and Magliocco Canino for red grapes and white grapes, Pecorella, Greco Bianco and Montonico. Located on the foothills of La Sila mountains and close proximity the Ionian Sea, the cool breezes help moderate temperatures in the extremely hot summers and keep vines healthy from disease.
The Melissa Doc appellation is located just south of the famous Cirò DOC, producing wines of similar style with Gaglioppo, one of Italy’s oldest varieties, dating back to Greek settlements. The Val di Neto lands, near Crotone have always been a land of vineyards, which has its roots in antiquity when Crotone, known in ancient times as Kroton, was the dominant city of Magna Grecia. La Pizzuta del Principe is a testament to both the region's proud winemaking tradition and its forward thinking approach to crafting excellent quality wines that express the territory.
Sandra Colosimo
Author