🍇 100% Gaglioppo - Pronounced Guy-yo-po
What to tell a customer
“It's a Calabrian red made from Gaglioppo — bright red fruit, dried cherry and raspberry, with earthy, savory spice and really nice tannin. It's structured but not heavy.”
What it is
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🍇 100% Gaglioppo
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📍 Cirò, Calabria
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🌱 Organic
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🍷 13.5% ABV
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🏺 Aged in concrete tanks, rather than new oak
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🕰️ Scala's concrete aging can run roughly 12–24 months depending on vintage. Tannico
Gaglioppo is the ancient native red grape of Calabria and is historically associated with the Greek heritage of the region. It's a grape that naturally gives you acidity + tannin + red fruit, rather than the plush, sweet-fruited character you might expect from a modern California red. Liner & Elsen
What it tastes like
The 2023 has a really nice combination of dried red fruit, earth and savory spice.
Think:
🍒 Dried cherry / sour cherry
🍓 Dried strawberry + raspberry
🍇 Currant
🌸 Violet
🍊 Orange peel
🌿 Earth / scrubland / Mediterranean herbs
☕ Coffee
🌶️ Cinnamon / baking spice
🪨 Savory, slightly mineral
The palate is fuller than medium-bodied, with fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity. The finish brings back dried berries and baking spice. Liner & Elsen
Another tasting note describes mature currant and sour cherry, violet, vegetal and saline notes, with a vigorous but balanced tannic structure and a long finish. Tannico
If they ask “Is it a big red?”
I'd say:
“It's structured, but it's not jammy or heavy. It's more elegant and savory, with good acidity and tannin.”
If they like Nebbiolo, you could say:
“If you like the savory, tannic side of Nebbiolo, you might really like this.”
Not because it tastes like Barolo—it doesn't—but because the acid + tannin + dried red fruit + earthy character can appeal to the same kind of palate.
Food
This wants food. Particularly:
🥩 Grilled/roasted red meat
🍖 Pork stew
🌶️ Spicy Calabrian food
🥓 Salumi
🧀 Aged cheese