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! — 18 days ago

Laura Closkey

9.0

Excellent! — 4 years ago

Rebecca Mills

8.9

Dry fruity bold — 10 years ago

with William

Anthony Pro

9.0

Enjoying this wine on Eataly's popup rooftop patio in Manhattan. Earthy, floral and incredibly smooth. Calabria huh? — 10 years ago

Elizabeth Sellen

9.5

Citrus and clean. Perfect with fish chowder and mussels. — 11 years ago

with Corrin

John Riddick

9.1

New Calabrian producer! Very Nebbiolo like. Great dusty tannin on finish. Impressive for Southern Italy. — 12 years ago

with Desmond

Bonnie Chu

8.9

Gambero Rosso Tre bicchieri l 🇮🇹 trade tasting: dusty strawberry — 4 months 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

Jerry Dixon

9.2

HAD at Portales with my love — 3 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

Nia Nguyen

9.3

Amazing wine amazing company — 10 years ago

Angelo Casagrande

9.0

Menthol and tobacco, with some licorice on the palate. A pleasure to drink. — 10 years ago

Allison Yoder

9.2

Great find! Very balanced, dark fruits, pepper and solid structure. — 11 years ago

Bonnie Chu

8.9

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

Melvin Bronny

9.4

Lekker bij Thaise salades, specifiek met gegrilde aubergine — 5 months ago

anthony alan latella

9.0

Great Rose from Ippolito! — 7 months ago

jackie Hoff

9.2

Very soft front end...juicy notes... — 6 years ago

Sean Trapani

Founder/Educator Wine Fluent, Consultant ABC Fine Wines & Spirits

8.9

Chalky, grippy tannins, and soft fruit. Best with food. — 10 years ago

Pamela Brandt

9.5

Delicious full bodied, flavorful. — 10 years ago

Luis Arguero (@winefromAtoZ)

9.2

My first experience with Gaglioppo grapes. Awesome fruit. Mild taste. Prunes & plumes. Hints of tobacco. Off red in color; almost a brown. Well balanced. Long beautiful finish. Can't wait to explore more Calabrian wines! — 11 years ago