2019 Bollina Menas Calabria IGT

"Calabria Rocks." Those aren't our words—that’s Wine Spectator celebrating one of Italy’s most overlooked wine regions. Decanter agrees, calling it "a region so lush and rich, an untouched beauty." Calabria, nestled between the Ionian and Tyrrhenian Seas in Southern Italy, is a historic and sun-soaked land where Greek settlers planted the first vines thousands of years ago. Today, it's a goldmine for full-bodied reds offering incredible value.

The 2019 Bollina Menas Calabria IGT is a stunning expression of this southern terroir. Rich, powerful, and vibrant, it delivers a sensory experience well beyond its price tag. Awarded a staggering 98 points by Luca Maroni, this red has officially joined the ranks of “The Best Italian Wines.”

While La Bollina, the winery, is headquartered in Piedmont—specifically in Serravalle Scrivia, Alessandria—the Menas line is part of an ambitious project sourcing grapes from Italy’s top regions, like Calabria, to showcase local character through a modern lens. This wine is 100% Calabrian in origin, made from grapes grown under the region’s intense sun and cooled by sea breezes that build complexity and freshness.

Aging: 6 months in French oak barrels lend depth and softness without overpowering the native fruit character.

If you love discovering lesser-known gems that punch way above their weight, this Calabrian red is a must-have. It’s southern Italian soul, bottled.