There are wines that manage to tell the story of their land with immediacy — wines that invite conviviality thanks to their accessibility, while at the same time capable of surprising from the very first sip. This is the case of Cirò Bianco Mare Chiaro ’24 by Ippolito 1845, which this year has earned the recognition for Best Value for Money in the Gambero Rosso Vini d’Italia 2026 guide — following last year’s award for the best red wine from Calabria under 20 euros in the Berebene guide.
But this award is not only about price: what stands out is the harmony of a wine that combines freshness, territorial identity, and stylistic precision. It is a white wine that conveys lightness and authenticity, inviting an easy-going, everyday drink, carefree but never trivial. It demonstrates how quality can coexist with simplicity — understood as care, balance, and meticulous attention to detail.
Ippolito 1845, a story spanning nearly two centuries
Founded in 1845 in Cirò Marina, Ippolito can boast 180 harvests, with roots stretching back almost two centuries. The winery, run by cousins Gianluca, Paolo, and Vincenzo Ippolito, celebrates this important milestone in excellent shape, supported by a production of outstanding quality — modern wines that nonetheless remain deeply connected to their grape varieties and territory, not by altering them, but by strengthening that bond.
In Cirò, the Ippolito family cultivates around one hundred hectares of vineyards, divided into three organically farmed estates set in a unique pedoclimatic environment: the sea just a few steps away, the hills providing shelter and ventilation, and soils that change character within just a few kilometres. Everything contributes to giving each parcel its own nuance, forming a mosaic that finds perfect balance in the glass.
The expanse of vineyards overlooking the Ionian Sea is the beating heart of a project that has always focused on native grape varieties. Among these, the Greco Bianco stands out — the main grape of the award-winning wine, Mare Chiaro.
A Cirò Bianco that is fresh and full of identity
Mare Chiaro ’24 shines for its brightness and precision. It is a Cirò Bianco of great depth — and, for the first time ever, a Cirò Bianco has received the coveted Tre Bicchieri award. On the nose, it opens with aromas of citrus fruits and white flowers, crossed by a salty breeze that seems to come straight from the sea. On the palate, the freshness is vivid and vibrant, supported by an agile structure that naturally invites another sip.
The mineral finish extends the sensation of cleanliness, making the wine extremely versatile: it moves effortlessly from a traditional Calabrian seafood table to more modern, fusion, and cosmopolitan pairings.
This is a wine that does not simply get drunk — it accompanies, tells a story, and invites sharing. A glass capable of transforming the everyday into an experience, and which, through simplicity and finesse, reveals the very essence of a winery and a land that, today more than ever, is looking confidently towards the future.
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