With almost 800 kilometres of coastline stretching from the heel to the toe of the Italian peninsular, Calabria is the country's most southerly region. The principal vineyard areas are located on the plain of Sibari, around Gioia Tauro and at Monte Pollino in the south. Among the locally grown varieties, Greco di Bianco and Montonico are of mainly regional interest. Calabria's best known wine, Cirò, is made from a grape called Gaglioppo.

A number of wineries are working to bring this interesting, full bodied red up to international premium standard through quality focused vineyard management, improved vinification and the use of barriques ageing. Altogether Calabria makes over 1 million hectolitres of wine a year, of which roughly 30,000 is destined for DOC bottling.