Cirò Classico, the ancient “official” wine of the Olympics, recognized at European level

It was the “official” wine of the Olympics, traditionally offered to athletes who returned victorious from sporting events, to whom divine honors were paid: Cirò Classico, Italian excellence made in Calabria, is now recognized and protected at the European level. The EU Commission has granted protection to the “Cirò Classico” Controlled and Guaranteed Designation of Origin, approving its registration as a PDO in the EU register. For the Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, Francesco Lollobrigida, “Italy confirms its leadership in quality. Wine is a pillar of Made in Italy, and Calabria is a region that in recent years has demonstrated a renewed ability to promote itself by focusing on quality”.
Today, July 25, 2025, the name “Cirò Classico DOP” was registered in the Official Journal of the European Union. According to updated data from the Qualivita Observatory, it is the 529th Italian DOP and IGP in the wine sector, as well as the 19th wine designation in Calabria. With the registration of the new PDO, Italy now has 529 wine GIs - of which 410 are PDOs and 119 are PGIs - to which are added 328 agri-food products, for a total of 857 designations, and considering the 35 GIs for spirit drinks.
“The Geographical Indications system is the way forward to ensure that the work of our farmers, products, and territories are recognized for their true value”, said Francesco Lollobrigida, Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Forestry. “Italy continues to be a leader in quality. The inclusion of Cirò Classico among the products protected at European level is yet another recognition of the strength and value of our production system. Wine is a pillar of Made in Italy, and Calabria is a region that in recent years has demonstrated a renewed ability to promote itself by focusing on quality. Today, Italy boasts over 890 PDO, PGI, TSG, and GI products: a heritage that is a source of pride, but also a responsibility, to which the Meloni government has been clearly committed from the outset”.
The wines with the Controlled and Guaranteed Designation of Origin “Cirò Classico” - which, according to the regulations, are produced with a minimum of 90% Gaglioppo and Magliocco, Greco Nero, alone or together, up to a maximum of 10% - originate in the entire administrative territory of the municipalities of Cirò and Cirò Marina. The area, which belongs to the coastal hillside altitude zone, extends from sea level to a maximum height of 462 meters and is the oldest vine-growing area in the entire region.
Krimisa (or Cremissa), the ancestor of today’s Cirò, was the “official wine” of the Olympics: Milo of Croton, winner of the wrestling competitions in six Olympic Games, was, according to some historians, a great admirer of this nectar, traditionally offered to athletes who returned victorious from sporting events, to whom divine honors were paid. This tradition was revived in more modern times: in 1968, at the Olympic Games in Mexico City, all participating athletes had the opportunity to taste Cirò as the official wine of the event.