Bisignano occupies a privileged hillside location in the middle Crati Valley, on the foothills of the Sila Greca, with vineyards spread across terraces and slopes overlooking the river and its tributaries. The varying altitudes, ranging from the inland hills to the areas closer to the valley floor, favour a diverse form of viticulture, supported by hot, dry summers, good ventilation and significant temperature variations between day and night. From a geological perspective, the area forms part of the Crati sedimentary basin, which is also characterised by fine, sandy and silty Pleistocene deposits; these contribute to soils that support the ripening of the grapes whilst maintaining balance and freshness.
The local winemaking tradition places particular emphasis on native Calabrian grape varieties. Among the red grapes, Magliocco stands out, alongside Gaglioppo and Nerello; among the white grapes, Mantonico, Greci, Guarnaccia and Malvasia are prominent. This yields structured, long-lived red wines, fragrant rosés and whites of good intensity, produced under the Terre di Cosenza PDO designation – particularly in the Colline del Crati sub-zone – and the Calabria PGI designation. Careful management of the vineyards – with some producers adopting organic practices – and winemaking techniques designed to bring out the best in the fruit further enhance the regional character of Bisignano’s wines.
