San Francesco Cirò Fattoria San Francesco 2020

This wine is the valued result of the careful and exclusive selection of Gaglioppo grapes, the most important autochthonous grapevine of Calabria, grown on the hillside vineyards owned by the company. The wine-making process follows traditional methods with a long maceration period. This wine has a ruby colour lit by orange reflections. It's spicy, ethereal aroma is of an average intensity and it has a dry, warm taste. It is a very well-balanced wine with good tannins. Contains sulphites. Produced by Vinicola San Francesco S.r.l. - Località Quattromani - 88813, Cirò (KR) - Italy.

The producer

The ancient chronicles relate that in 1578, after Saint Francis passed through the Cirò countryside, Domenico di Paola founded a Franciscan monastery which was surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. The monastery was closed by Ferdinand IV in 1770 and when its assets, including vineyards, were put up for auction in 1777, Don Benedetto Siciliani bought them. Since then the vineyards at Fattoria San Francesco have continued to produce wine. The old monastery, which is now known as Casale San Francesco, is the centre of agricultural activity. The Cirò area, which has been noted since the time of the ancient Greeks for the valued wines it produces, consists of Cirò, the old town perched on the hills, and Cirò Marina, the newer town on the shore of the Ionian sea. The grapevines at Fattoria San Francesco are spread out over these hills, growing strong under the hot Calabrian sun and the gentle sea breezes.

Best with

This wine goes particularly well with elaborate meat dishes, especially if they are based on beef and pork, and with medium-mature cheeses. It is also good with first courses based on spicy sauces, such as ragù.

How to serve it

Serve at 18 - 20 degrees centigrade in clear, transparent crystal goblets.

How to keep

If kept well, this wine has an average conservation period of five to eight years. The bottles should be laid horizontally in a cool, dark, humid wine-cellar.