Freddy R. Troya

9.1

Ippolito 1845 – Mare Chiaro Cirò Bianco 2025 – Cirò DOC, Calabria, Italy 🇮🇹

Overview
A joyful expression of Calabria’s flagship white grape, 100% Greco Bianco. Produced near the Ionian Sea, Mare Chiaro beautifully captures the region’s coastal identity with vibrant freshness, saline minerality, and Mediterranean character. Far from a conventional white wine, it offers both remarkable drinkability and a fascinating glimpse into one of Italy’s oldest wine regions.

Aromas & Flavors
Bright aromas of citrus, white peach, tropical fruit, white flowers, and fresh herbs lead into flavors of lemon zest, pear, stone fruit, and subtle saline minerality. The finish is crisp, savory, and distinctly reminiscent of a sea breeze.

Mouthfeel
Light to medium-bodied with lively acidity and a beautifully balanced texture. Refreshing, mineral-driven, and wonderfully clean, it glides effortlessly across the palate before finishing with lingering coastal freshness.

Food Pairings
Perfect with grilled octopus, oysters, seafood pasta, fried calamari, ceviche, grilled fish, or fresh burrata with herbs.

Verdict
A delicious coastal white that overdelivers in personality and originality. Fresh, expressive, and endlessly drinkable, it showcases why Calabria deserves far more attention among lovers of distinctive Italian white wines.

Did You Know?
Greco Bianco has been cultivated in Calabria for well over two millennia, with roots tracing back to the arrival of Greek settlers in southern Italy during the era of Magna Graecia (“Greater Greece”). Today, it remains the historic backbone of Cirò Bianco and one of Italy’s oldest continuously cultivated indigenous white grapes.

🍷 Personal Pick
This bottle was simply fun from the very first sip. I loved its coastal personality, saline finish, and the way it kept inviting another glass without ever becoming heavy. It’s the kind of wine I enjoy pouring blind because almost everyone asks the same question afterward: “What was that? Can I have another glass?” That’s always a great sign. Cheers! — 3 days ago

Anna Husek

10

LOVE! - sauv/chard blend, had with aps — 4 years ago

Laura Closkey

9.0

Excellent! — 4 years ago

Nick Piccone

9.0

Lighter looking wine but a lot of red fruit, earth, leather and salt — 6 years ago

Andy Shmandy

9.4

The Italian Stallion — 6 years ago

Evelyn Fleisher

9.0

Really flavorful white wine — 7 years ago

Bonnie Chu

8.9

Gambero Rosso Tre bicchieri l 🇮🇹 less dusty strawberry — 4 months ago

Brandon Boesch

9.0

Funky goodness. Some fruit, tons of acidity, some stone fruit, maybe grilled fruits, herbs and spices. Pretty full bodied. — a year ago

Yuya Ogino

9.0

やや重め。嫌な味はしない。
リピートしたい。 — 2 years ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.1

Vintage 2019 | Calabria, from gaglioppo grape. Very refined bouquet, I determined the wine as Margaux. Laurel and red fruit explosion. Rondeur and potential. — 4 years ago

Kevin C

9.0

Very light pizza wine — 5 years ago

Belinda

9.1

This was a very pleasant surprise, versatile red that can probably pair well with many casual weeknight dinners. Not too fruity, not overly complex. Just overall pleasing. — 6 years ago

Jonas Johansson

8.9

A bit of a confused blend, quite Italian too — 7 years ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of 90 minutes. The 2013 pours a deep garnet with an opaque core and a rusty brown rim; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and significant sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with desiccated dark fruit, salmiakki, leather, espresso, and a Maillard reaction thing. On the palate, the wine is dry it’s high tannin and medium acid at best…probably medium-. The finish is medium. Drink now. — 5 months ago

Riccardo L.

8.9

Subtle sweetness on a dry white was unexpected of a southern Italian white - good thing I didn’t have to try this blind, I’d have guessed something Alsatian. That said, it was great. — 2 years ago

Nikolay

9.2

Great white wine with very rich fruity taste. — 3 years ago

Peter Sultan

9.1

What’s cool is the almost orange copper color, & the seriously savory flavor profile. Had w 4th of July bbq ribs & it held its own. — 4 years ago

Ryan Bellmore

9.0

Thicc white. Dinner wine. Apples and grass up front, low acid, party in the back — 6 years ago

Rob Sternthal

9.0

Excellent nose. Slightly tannic. But very good. — 6 years ago

Matthew Greitzer

9.0

Delightful. Easy drinking. Slightly tannic with a good balance of blackberry fruit and earth and herbs. — 8 years ago