Terre di Cosenza is a relatively new addition to the DOCs of Calabria, southern Italy. Introduced in late 2011, it symbolized a long-awaited renaissance in the region's winemaking. The title covers the Cozenza province in its entirety. Within the Terre di Cosenza viticultural area, a cluster of sub-zones have been identified as producing particularly high-quality wines. These are Condoleo, Donnici, Esaro, Pollino, San Vito di Luzzi, Colline del Crati and Verbicaro. These were once independent IGT / DOC titles in their own right, but were absorbed into Terre di Conzenza in late 2011. Wines made from grapes grown exclusively in these areas may bear the subzone's name on their labels.
Red Terre di Cosenza rosso focuses heavily on Calabria's idiosyncratic dark-skinned grape Magliocco (also known as Arvino and Mantonico Nero), which is required to make up at least 60% the blend. Magliocco also appears in the blend for the rosé wines, which is much more flexible; Terre di Cosenza rosato can be made from any combination of Greco Nero, Gaglioppo, Aglianico and Nero d'Avola (known locally as 'Calabrese'). The DOC's finest whites are based on Greco Bianco and Mantonico.
As is happening all over Italy, the Terre di Cosenza lawmakers have recognized the increasing importance of varietal winemaking in the modern wine market. Fifteen individual grape varieties (a combination of local specialities and better-known foreign grapes) have been singled out for special treatment here, and may be made into Terre di Cosenza varietal wines. The majority of these are made from the varieties mentioned above, but Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot also figure increasingly.
