The oldest wine of Calabria between sea and hills
On the Ionian coast north of Crotone, between the sea and the hills, the area of Cirò and Cirò Marina is the most famous wine-growing area of Calabria, home of the Cirò DOC, one of the oldest wines in Italy. Viticulture here dates back to the ancient Greeks, who called southern Italy "Enotria", land of wine: according to tradition, the wine produced here, called "Krimisa" after a temple dedicated to Apollo Aleo that stood near the modern Punta Alice, was offered to the winners of the Olympic Games, and Cirò is often presented, in a suggestive way, as the heir of that ancient wine. The main grape is the Gaglioppo, a native red variety which gives full-bodied, tannic and long-lived wines, with notes of red fruit and spices; there are also rosé versions and a white made from Greco Bianco.
The area is dotted with wineries, from historic family estates to modern cellars, many of which offer tastings and visits to the vineyards, which stretch from the sea to the hills, with views over the Ionian. Cirò Marina, on the coast, is a seaside resort with long beaches and the remains of the Greek temple at Punta Alice, while Cirò, the old town on the hill, preserves the Carafa castle and narrow lanes. Cirò is the birthplace of Luigi Lilio (Aloysius Lilius), the sixteenth-century physician and astronomer who devised the reform of the calendar adopted by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582, the Gregorian calendar we still use today.
Tip: book a tasting in a winery among the vineyards; pair the Cirò with the local dishes, such as fish soup or roast lamb.
Where it is
More things to see in Calabria
Where to stay near Cirò Marina
Tours and activities nearby
Offers from GetYourGuide. Some links are affiliate links: if you book we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.