In September 2021, the “Calabria Region comes to the UAE” project was launched, part of which is dedicated to the promotion of Calabrian wines and spirits in the Gulf countries. Calabrian wines and bitters are today very well-known and appreciated. Calabrian bitters, in particular are gradually conquering the world, thanks to always different recipes and the use of typical and refined products such as medicinal herbs and citrus fruits. The secret of Calabrian Amari is their ability to describe a unique territory, an integral part of Southern Italy.
Calabria was awarded with two absolute titles, and the national equivalents, at the World Liquer Awards 2021: the World’s Best Herbal and World’s Best Bitter went to two important Calabrian companies which presented Amari whose recipes include more than 30 officinal herbs (including wild fennel and native licorice). The production process of Amari in Calabria has a classic matrix for which the ingredients are cold macerated and for this reason, the Italian Chamber of Commerce in the UAE, in collaboration with Confartigianato Imprese Calabria, has decided to give to a selected group of companies the possibility of entering the UAE market in order to have the possibility of developing long-term commercial relationships with local operators.
Eleven wineries have been selected by Barracuda, one of the very few authorized Emirati alcohol retailers. The selected companies are:
- Cantina Archeoenologica (https://www.acroneo.it/?lang=1 );
- Cantine Artese (https://www.cantineartese.it/ );
- Cantine Bruni (https://www.cantinebruni.it/sito/wine-list.html );
- Cantine Chimento (http://www.cantinechimento.it/ );
- Cantine Greco (https://www.cantinegreco.it/) ;
- Distilleria F.lli Caffo srl (https://www.caffo.com/home.asp );
- Distribuzione srl – Imperium (https://imperium1892.it/ );
- L’acino (http://www.acinovini.it/ );
- Linardi (linardiwines.com );
- Qual’Italy (https://www.qualitalystore.it/ );
- Russo e Longo (https://www.russoelongo.it/ );
- Farneto del Principe (https://www.farnetodelprincipe.it/ ).
The aforementioned companies have recently shipped a quantity of their best wines and liqueurs which, thanks to the precious collaboration of the Market of Excellence of Calabria, will reach Dubai in January. The drinks will be displayed in Barracuda, the largest alcoholic store in the United Arab Emirates located in Humm Al Qwain. The shop as well as the HO.RE.CA. is aimed at private customers and has more than 1000 customers a day.