Biodiversity of Calabrian Gastronomy

20.7.2019

THE REGION IS 9° IN THE TOP TEN OF ITALY

The “flag of taste” nr. 9 was assigned this year, 2019, at the table of Calabria. This is what emerged from the new census 2019 of the Italian food & beverage specialties, that are obtained according to traditional rules protracted over time for at least 25 years.
The census was presented by Coldiretti at the opening of the Coldiretti Farmer’s Village in Milan at Castello Sforzesco, athe presence of many farmers, farmer’s markt operators and agri-chef.

A plenty of specialties


The exhibition introduced many historical recipes, and the sub-exhibitions, connected to this bigger event, made known many treasures to save, hidden in the Made in Italy.
At the event, there was a large representation of Calabrian farmers, who exhibited and made taste some of the most famous agricultural products of Calabria: liquorice, figs, Dop salami, Spilinga nduja pasta, bergamot, cheeses, cedar, chilli pepper and many others.

Colors of gastronomy

269 GASTRONOMIC SPECIALTIES

In our region – said Franco Aceto regional president of Coldiretti – the products surveyed by the region are 269 that are part of the heritage of specialties that are obtained according to traditional rules extended over time for at least 25 years. These are paired with the 17 Dop and Igp Calabresi specialties.

Salami, Bergamot, Wine, Cheese, Bread

This is the result of the work of entire generations of farmers committed to defending and preserving biodiversity and the distinctiveness of the territory and food traditions over time “, continued Aceto, who also stressed that “it is a common good for all citizens and a cultural heritage that generates considerable interest and that we can proudly offer to Italian and foreign tourists also because they are evocative of stories and territories“.

The census of food products in our region – suggested Aceto – “must accelerate and continue because there is still a rich heritage of biodiversity and products that can be put to value with undisputed benefits. We need to consolidate the new development model of Calabria, basing it on the strengths that are its own historical and artistic heritage, the landscape and the food.

Biscuits, spirits, wine, pastry

“The regional specialties of Calabria are – according to Coldiretti – 85 different types of pasta, bread and bakery products, 28 types of meat, 24 cheeses, and further: 73 vegetable or processed products, 12 compound dishes or gastronomic products, 7 beverages (including soft drinks), liqueurs and spirits, 11 products of animal origin (honey, dairy excluding butter, etc.) and 21 preparations of fish, molluscs and crustaceans “.

Increase in Calabrian Wine production 2019

But this is our best medicine, with wine fraught
⁠To cast out thought

[Alcaeus of Mytilene, From "Winter"]

16.6.2019

Calabria is a region, which in 2019 stood out for surface cultivated with organic vines, 51% of the total, first region of the country.

This is the high profile of Calabria as also outlined by UniCredit’s Industry Book 2019!

DEVELOPMENT

The study that UniCredit conducts annually on trends, competitive dynamics, development prospects and growth of the variegated national wine sector, confirms the development of the Calabrian wine sector, also on the in the face of quality with 38% of the production of DOC (denomination of quality) and IGP (protection of geographical winemaking) wines.

Red wine production increase

The annual report, conducted by the bank, announced its results just before the opening of Vinitaly 2019.

Before Vinitaly in Verona, the industrial report clearly showed how, in line with the growing demand for organic wines, also in the tip of the boot, cradle of some of the most ancient and celebrated wine productions in Italy, the expansion of the biological cultivation of the vine has continued!

The study documents that in Calabria the area of organically cultivated vines has exceeded 4,400 hectares, making it possible for this agricultural reality to reach the sixth position in the country.

Organic wines production increase

The region, in particular, stands out in Italy with 51% of the area planted with organic vines and with a growth of 5.2% between 2016 and 2017 (the latest data available), followed by Basilicata with 49%.

MORE QUALITY

Further, on the quality front, the wines of Calabria are in strong growth: in 2018 almost four bottles out of 10 (38% of regional production) are wines that can bear the DOC or IGP marks of quality, for a total of almost 143 thousand hectoliters of product.

VISION OF FUTURE

In general, Calabria closed 2018 in sixteenth position in terms of wine production levels, with over 378 thousand hectoliters, corresponding to 0.7% of national production.

Calabrian rosè wines

In this context, in 2018, for the fourth consecutive year, Italy was confirmed as the world’s leading wine producer, with a contribution of around 17% from world production. In particular, the production of DOC wine increased (+ 21.7% year on year, of which + 23.4% red and + 20.5% white) while the IGP recorded a more contained increase (+2.5 % year on year).

However during the same period, even if the production of wine in Italy was very abundant with a total of 50.4 million hectoliters, which made it possible to exceed the levels of the previous year by 10.5%, Calabria stood out in the landscape of producers.