About Librandi
Librandi is a family-owned winery based in Cirò Marina, in the Calabria region of southern Italy. Founded in 1953 by the Librandi family, it is one of the most prominent producers in the region and plays a central role in promoting native Calabrian grape varieties. The winery is particularly known for its work with Gaglioppo, used in its Cirò wines, as well as Magliocco and the white variety Greco Bianco.
Prices are for take away and shipping. The wine bar serves from its own list.
The winery
About Librandi
History
Librandi is a family winery in Cirò Marina, on the Ionian coast of Calabria. Sources date the start of the business to the 1950s, with Raffaele Librandi, and one account gives 1953 for the first bottling. His sons Antonio and Nicodemo built the company. In the mid 1970s Librandi became the first winery in Calabria to hire a professional oenologist, Severino Garofano. Nicodemo died in 2023, and the next generation, Raffaele, Paolo, Francesco and Teresa, now leads the company.
The land and the vineyards
The estates stretch over some 400 hectares facing the Ionian Sea, of which about 232 are vines and about 90 are olive groves, with forest making up the rest. The vineyards are spread over several estates, among them Rosaneti, bought in 1997. The old bush trained vines of Cirò are kept alongside newer plantings. The brothers began experimental plots in 1993 and ran a long research program on the local grapes, Gaglioppo and Magliocco Dolce. In 2014 the first clones of Calabrian varieties from that work were entered in the national register of vines.
The wines
The range is grouped by area: IGT Calabria (Val di Neto), Cirò DOC, Melissa DOC and a few others, covering red, white, rosé, sparkling and sweet wines. Gaglioppo is the grape of the red Cirò, and the house labels include Duca Sanfelice, Gravello and Efeso. The company makes over two million bottles a year and sends about half of them to over 40 countries.
Today
Librandi has held Equalitas sustainability certification since 2021 and measures its carbon and water footprint. It also makes olive oil, offers cellar tours and tastings, and takes part in the Museum of Viticulture and Wine (VI.TE.S.) in Cirò Marina. A restored farmhouse on the estate, A Casedda, hosts exhibitions and events. The agave plant is the symbol the family chose for its labels and its idea of a sunny, southern Calabria.
- Founded
- 1950s
- Area
- About 400 hectares
- Vineyards (hectares)
- About 232
- Main grapes
- Gaglioppo, Magliocco Dolce
- Owners
- Librandi family
- Winemaker
- Donato Lanati (consulting oenologist)