Vendemmia: Making Wine in Calabria

If you visit Calabria in the fall, you might be lucky enough to participate in the vendemmia, or grape harvest, which is a time-honored tradition deeply embedded in the culture and history of Calabria.

While you may not know it, Calabria is a hidden gem in the world of wine production. Calabria offers a variety of microclimates that influence the character of its grapes. The region's hot, dry summers and mild winters, combined with mineral-rich soils, create ideal conditions for growing hearty, robust grape varieties.

The vendemmia is more than just a harvest; it's a celebration of the land, the grape, and the generations of winemaking expertise passed down over centuries.

The Significance of Vendemmia in Calabria

In Calabria, the vendemmia is a crucial event, typically taking place between late August and October, depending on the variety of grapes and the region’s climate. The process is labor-intensive and a true family affair. Many vineyards still rely on manual harvesting to ensure the highest quality grapes are selected. This careful attention to detail is a hallmark of Calabrian winemaking.

I (Su) recently got to participate in the annual vendemmia of my fiance's family in Davoli. His family doesn't grow grapes (there are cinghiali or wild pigs that like to eat them!) so they buy grapes from Sicily.

The Process of Making Wine in Calabria

We started early in the morning crushing the grapes to extract the juice. In the past, this was done by foot-stomping, a practice still honored in some smaller, family-run vineyards today.

Francesco's family uses a large electric machine that grinds the grapes, separating the stems from the fruit. The grape must is stored in giant vats for two days to rest. The longer it rests, the darker the color becomes.

After that, we put the must into a grape press and the juice was extracted. Even after one round with all the must, we did another round to get every last drop of juice!

In between work, we enjoyed snacks like panini and fritelle, accompanied by an ice-cold beer or glass of wine. Winemaking is, after all, hard work! But it's more fun with family and friends.

The last step is to drain the large vats into smaller containers, which were taken to the family's cantina, where the juice will ferment into alcohol over the next four months. Then, after the first full moon of January, the wine will be bottled and enjoyed!

Calabria’s Famous Wines

While Calabria may not be as internationally recognized as regions like Tuscany or Piedmont, its wines have been gaining attention for their unique qualities and rich flavors. Some of the most notable wines from the region include:

• Cirò Rosso: Made from the Gaglioppo grape, this red wine is Calabria’s most famous export. It’s bold, earthy, and pairs beautifully with hearty Italian cuisine.

• Greco di Bianco: A sweet, white dessert wine made from the Greco Bianco grape, often enjoyed after meals with local pastries.

• Magliocco: A rich and full-bodied red wine that has been revitalized in recent years, offering complex flavors of dark fruit and spices.

Experience the Vendemmia

For visitors, the vendemmia offers a rare opportunity to experience the authentic side of Calabria’s wine culture. Many vineyards now offer harvest experiences, where you can join in the grape picking, learn about the winemaking process, and, of course, enjoy tastings of the finished product. It’s a chance to not only taste the wines of Calabria but also to participate in the time-honored traditions that make this region so special. And Go Go Calabria can arrange this for you!

The vendemmia is more than just a season--it’s a celebration of life, heritage, and the enduring art of winemaking in Calabria. So, if you find yourself in this sun-soaked corner of Italy during the fall, grab a basket, head to the vineyards, and experience the magic of the vendemmia for yourself.