
Tastings and winery tours: the places of Cirò and Melissa PDO wines
Lovers of good wine and wine tourism are in the right place: the province of Crotone, between the Ionian coast and its hills overlooking the sea, is the perfect place to indulge in wine tastings and winery visits under the banner of PDO Cirò and Melissa wines.
Two wines, PDO Cirò and Melissa, that release into the glass the essence of an entire region: the warmth of the earth, its ancient bond with the vine, the loving gestures handed down for generations and the pride of the most prestigious producers.
PDO Cirò and PDO Melissa represent two excellences of Calabrian viticulture, appreciated, and awarded worldwide, in the main trade fairs and international wine competitions.
Crotonese excellences: PDO Cirò and Melissa
PDO Cirò is a wine that express itself in the types of white, red, and rosé. Red is in turn produced as classic, superior and reserve. The area of elective production of CDO Cirò wine includes in its entirety the Municipalities of Cirò and Cirò Marina, and in part the Municipalities of Melissa and Crucoli. Cirò wines are the result of autochthonous vineyards of ancient presence on Calabrian soil: mainly Gaglioppo and Greco Bianco.

The PDO Melissa is produced in the white and red types. Its production area includes the Municipalities of Melissa, Belvedere Spinello, Carfizzi, San Nicola dell'Alto, Umbriatico, Casabona, Castelsilano, Crotone, Pallagorio, Rocca di Neto, Scandale, San Mauro Marchesato, Santa Severina and Strongoli.
The vines used for the production of PDO Melissa wines include: Gaglioppo and Greco Bianco with small shares of Greco Nero, Trebbiano Toscano and Malvasia Bianca.
PDO Cirò and Melissa wines are the perfect accompaniment to traditional Crotonese and Mediterranean dishes in general, or in combination with great cheeses and local cured meats, such as PDO Pecorino Crotonese and Salumi di Calabria PDO; but also, with fresh fish (for white and rosé), such as Sardella Crotonese, Ionian blue fish and all shellfish and seafood dishes.
Vineyard tours
Organizing a tasting trip and visits to the winery in the Crotonese means enjoying a wine tourism tour of crystal-clear sea, among Blue Flag resorts, and the mid-coast villages in the Sila National Park, among the suggestive Calanchi del Marchesato.