While you’re tasting and testing the savory flavors of the family’s favorite stuffing or dressing, or stirring and listening to the popping of the fresh cranberries as they give forth their bittersweet fruit flavors, here are two wines that will go nicely with all of that tasting and seasoning correction. Should there be any stress associated with the meal prep, these will also mellow you out.

Another de-stresser is that this wine is under $16.00 a bottle!

’07 Fattoria San Francesco Ciró, Calabria, Italy

Calabria.Enotria-the land of wine. That's what the ancient Greeks had to say
about Calabria. This region provides the toe to the Italian peninsula, and
on the map it looks poised to boot Sicily straight through the Pillars of
Hercules for three points. and although the region is mainly mountainous,
one is never far away from the sea.

Cirò.is the best-known of the Calabrian wine regions. In the eastern
foothills of La Sila, it extends out to the Ionian coast. Soils are
primarily calcareous marl, along with some clays and sandy patches. Wines of
this region are primarily red, and typically contain some 95% of the
indigenous variety Gaglioppo. A splendid wine displaying great force and
presence, its nature encourages patience and rewards cellaring. Legend has
it that the wine of Cirò was offered to ancient Olympic champions.

With 12 DOC and 12 IGT designations, Calabria produces mainly red wine-and
the weather conditions are so detailed that it certainly pins the micro on
the climate, although most wines are made in the temperate coastal regions.
Grape varieties include Gaglioppo, Greco Nero, Greco Bianco, Nerello
Mascalese-and a bit of Sangiovese.

Gaglioppo is a major player on the Calabrian red scene-nearly every wine in
the neighborhood can claim it as a component. Characterized by intense
aromas of dog-rose with touches of tar-not a bad recommendation, since it
shares these qualities with the magnificent and noble Nebbiolo-this grape
variety has made its home here since it was brought by the earliest Greek
colonizers. It flourishes under the influence of kaleidoscopic diurnal
temperature swings, which encourage the bunches to hang late into the season
and develop optimum concentration. Deep garnet and ruby colored, Gaglioppo
falls full-flavored upon the palate

TASTING NOTES:

The bouquet is very intense and persistent, fine, wide, spiced, ethereal. At
the taste is dry, warm, tannic, well-balanced.

FOOD PAIRING:

It's ideal for white meat dishes, even for the elaborate and savories like roasted turkey. Also good with cheese that has had a mean maturing or a vein or two of blue.

For more info: Purchase Ciro online or in person at: Du Vin Wine & Spirits, West Hollywood http://www.du-vin.net; Italian Wine Merchant, New York  http://www.italianwinemerchant.com

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