Italian accent becomes more pronounced

The Calabria family are going back to their Italian roots with the release of a collection of new-release imported wines from Italian producers Canti and Librandi.

The wines are being released through the Calabria family's new distribution arm Vintners & Co Merchants.

The new entity was formed as part of the Calabria Family Wine Group to showcase the family’s unique distribution partnerships. 

Andrew Calabria, sales and marketing director for Calabria Family Wines, said the steady surge in alternative varieties produced locally has contributed to a strong interest from both retail customers and consumers for more imports. 

“From nero d’Avola, nebbiolo, to fiano and arneis, Australians are becoming accustomed to the Mediterranean-style and particularly, Italian-made wines," Calabria said. 

"These changing tastes are also reflected in the mammoth growth of the prosecco category over recent years as consumers look beyond just Champagne for their sparkling-based celebrations.” 

Behind France and New Zealand, Italy is the third-largest wine importer into Australia. 

Calabria hopes the Canti brand will become a key player in the Australian prosecco category based on its international success. 

Canti was founded in 2001 by Gianni Martini, the renowned second-generation wine entrepreneur of the Fratelli Martini Secondo Luigi spa. 

In 2016, Canti was the best-selling prosecco brand in the world, selling around 12 million bottles. In 2017 it increased its sales to 20 million bottles and remains one of the world’s best selling proseccos.

Canti also has a prosecco bar at world-renowned Harrods in London.

Librandi, meanwhile, is a winery based in Cirò, in the eastern corner of the Calabria region of Southern Italy.

Although founded in the 1950s, the family has been working with wines for centuries and four generations of winemakers lie behind brothers and founders Antonio and Nicodemo Librandi. 

The wines will be available from select wine retailers nationally and Canti Prosecco’s are available online at www.calabriawines.com.au

My samples just arrived - so I will report back