Here are the best wines from Calabria 2024 according to Gambero Rosso.
Benvenuto Orange Zibibbo 2022
Greco 2022
Grisara Pecorello 2022
Calabria didn’t disappoint this year either. For decades, the region seemed unable to wake from its prolonged slumber, a state it had lulled us into for so long. However, subtle stirrings had been underfoot. In truth, the first signs came about a dozen years ago with the emergence of the so-called “Cirò Boys” – a group of young producers intent on revitalizing the historic Cirò wine through traditional production methods and sustainable farming. While this commendable initiative did achieve partial success, its impact remained confined to the Cirò appellation alone.
Calabria's wines 2024
What's transpired and what we're witnessing over the past few years is a full-blown, notably green, revolution spanning the entire region, from north to south. In a short span, dozens of new producers have emerged, not only crafting wines—often by reviving traditional native varietals—but with a clear vision of quality. Over the years, we've narrated stories of individuals who embarked on life projects, sometimes leaving other professions, to return to Calabria, reviving their parents and grandparents' dreams that were once interrupted by the mass emigration that marked the region from the post-war period up to recent times. The outcomes are impressive: never have so many Calabrian producers been reviewed in our guide, and an unprecedented number of wines have reached our finals, all while the qualitative bar for wines continues to rise each year.
Sweet wines in Calabria
Furthermore, Calabria remains one of the few regions producing high-quality sweet wines (or meditation wines, if you prefer), utilizing native grapes like greco di Bianco, zibibbo di Pizzo, mantonico, and moscato di Saracena. Lastly, it's a region deeply committed to environmental preservation and ecosystem protection. Unsurprisingly, almost all the new estates adopt a "green" approach, be it organic or biodynamic, in their vineyard and cellar practices. This, too, is a positive sign.