[FR] Wine and identity in Calabria

The southern regions of Italy, characterised until the 1950s and 1960s by widespread poverty, are still among the poorest in the country today. Among them, Calabria is the least recognised Italian region for its wines (due in particular to its very rugged topography). The Cirò area, whose DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) wine is exported all over the world, is an exception. This area alone produces more than 85% of all DOC wine in Calabria. In the 19th century, Cirò wine was only known and sought after in Calabria. The area then developed (between the end of the 19th and the middle of the 20th century) to become a producer of blended wines for the northern regions of Italy and France. Today, it stands out for its high-quality production. It is the only area in Calabria with an organised wine industry integrated into the international wine trade, with production from other wine-growing areas in Calabria mainly consumed regionally.