CorkSavvy

Celebrating an athletic victory with wine or Champagne is not a recent phenomenon. Legend has it that as far back as the ancient Olympiads, Calabrian athletes celebrated victories by drinking Ciro wine, making Ciro wine one of the oldest existing wines.  

Ciro wine is grown in the Calabria region of Italy at the toe of the “Italian boot.” The region of Calabria was first cultivated by the ancient Greeks. Over 2500 years ago, the Greek athlete Milo of Croton, from the Calabria region, was rumored to drink over two and a half gallons (10 liters) of Ciro wine daily. The wine is grown from the Gaglioppo grape (of Greek origin) in the low hills along the Ionian coast between the ancient Greek cities of Sybaris and Kroton (known today as Sibari and Crotone). With 60,000 acres planted with grapevines, Calabria ranks 13th among the 20 Italian grape growing regions and produces over 90% red grapes. Less than 3% of the wines of Calabria carry the DOC designation signifying a higher quality wine.

Today with contemporary wine making skills, the alcoholic strength of the wine has been diminished making the wine rounder, fuller in fruit, and fresher in bouquet. Classic Ciro has the capacity to age beyond a decade for certain vintages. The color is ruby red with orangey highlights when aged. It has light colored pulp, a very thick skin and light tannins. Another interesting fact about Ciro wine is that its vines are pruned like miniature trees about 3 feet tall allowing the grapes to absorb the heat from the ground and the leaves to absorb the sunshine.