Santa Venere is undoubtedly one of the most qualitatively reliable wineries in the entire Cirò appellation. Founded by Federico Scala in the 1960s, the estate 150-plus hectares has been in his family for several generations and is now expertly and passionately managed by Federico's son Giuseppe and brother Francesco. The Scalas were pioneers in Cirò, and perhaps in Calabria, first converting their entire farm to organic and later to biodynamic practices. They were also among the first to rediscover and produce wines from nearly forgotten indigenous varieties like marsigliana nera and guardavalle. The Cirò Riserva Federico Scala '21 always performs impressively in our tastings. It unveils an elegant, harmonious combination of wild black fruits, sour cherries, Mediterranean scrub, and well-balanced oak on the nose. The palate is juicy, with tannins masterfully integrated with fruit, proving to be a fresh drink, fleshy, and notably long.
