Vumbaca
Christian Vumbaca left his career as lawyer in Rome to follow his dream of becoming a winemaker. He returned to his hometown of Cirò and began farming the vineyards that his mom and uncle bought in 1984, 13 hectares (32 acres) of old vines Gaglioppo, Greco Bianco and Pecorello, the native grapes of these lands, for the most part still planted with the traditional “alberello” system.
Christian’s approach to winemaking is minimalistic (no oak is used to age the wines), practicing organic farming and refraining from the use of any pesticides and herbicides. Christian’s production is tiny, and his wines speak of his own personality: jovial, honest, and direct. Calabria’s Mediterranean character is all in the balance of fruit aromas, notes of spices and hints of coastal scrub.
An infamously finicky grape to work with, Gaglioppo has ancient origins (Cirò is where the first Greek colonies settled thousands of years ago). Hard to tame, with a deceivingly light color and yet a substantial amount of tannins, Gaglioppo is the classic Southern Italian wine: amazing with simple foods like sausages and hearty cheeses, but with a unique and unmistakeable character.
Available Wines:
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Cirò Rosso Classico Superiore DOC
100% organically grown Gaglioppo, Calabria’s most important red grape variety, from 50+ years old vines, trained in the traditional “alberello” system. Fermented with native yeasts and aged in stainless steel tanks. Maceration is kept short, to just 6 days.
As usual with Gaglioppo, this is deceivingly light in color, but full of character, with plenty of berry fruit aromas and a vibrant acidity.
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Cirò Rosso Classico Superiore Riserva DOC
A selection of the estate’s best organically grown Gaglioppo grapes, from 50+ years old vines, trained in the traditional “alberello” system. Fermented with native yeasts in stainless steel tanks, and aged in stainless steel tanks for over 2 years.
Winemaking is minimal, for a wine that is full of character and brims with aromas of small berry fruit, pomegranate and black pepper.
Christian Vumbaca in his vineyards
Christian Vumbaca's vineyards in Cirò
Gaglioppo clusters
Gaglioppo "Old Vines" Alberello
Gaglioppo Clusters
Gaglioppo Clusters