Description

Anelis L’Imperatrice | Calabria, Italy

Anelis L’Imperatrice is certainly dressed to get attention — but there is a rather interesting wine behind that fabulous label too. Made from Magliocco Canino, a native red grape from Calabria in southern Italy, this is something genuinely different for anyone who enjoys discovering wines beyond the usual familiar varieties.

The wine has the warm, generous character you would expect from southern Italy, with ripe red and dark fruit at its heart. There is plenty of flavour, but also a savoury, slightly spicy side that keeps each glass interesting.

On the palate, L’Imperatrice is rounded and expressive, with ripe fruit, gentle tannins and enough freshness to keep everything nicely balanced. It’s a satisfying red without becoming overly heavy — the kind of bottle that works beautifully with food but is equally enjoyable when the wine itself is the main event.

And then there is L’Imperatrice herself. The wonderfully eccentric label — crown, red sunglasses, glass of wine and all — fits perfectly with the Anelis philosophy of bringing wine and art together. This is definitely not a bottle destined to disappear unnoticed at the back of the wine rack.

For anyone who enjoys trying something a little outside the ordinary, L’Imperatrice has a lot going for it: an indigenous Calabrian grape, plenty of Mediterranean personality and one seriously memorable bottle.

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🍇 Key Details

• Region: Calabria (Italy)
• Grapes: 100% Magliocco Canino
• Vineyards: Calabria, Southern Italy
• Alcohol: 13.5% Vol.
• Style: Fruity, savoury, smooth and expressive
• Serving Temperature: 16–18°C
• Contains Sulfites

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🍷 Tasting Notes

• Appearance: Deep ruby red
• Aroma: Ripe red and dark fruit with Mediterranean herbs and gentle spicy notes
• Palate: Generous and smooth with ripe fruit, savoury character, gentle tannins and a balanced finish

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🍽 Food Pairing

• Roast lamb
• Grilled beef
• Pasta with rich tomato or meat sauces
• Italian sausages
• Aubergine dishes
• Mature cheeses

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💎 Why We Love It

A chance to discover the little-known Magliocco Canino grape in a wine that’s generous, characterful and very easy to enjoy. And L’Imperatrice herself makes the bottle rather difficult to forget.

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About Anelis

Anelis is an unconventional wine project that brings together wine, art and distinctive small-production bottles rather than following the traditional idea of a winery with one vineyard and one regional identity.

That explains why the last two Anelis bottles we did came from Argentina’s Uco Valley, while L’Imperatrice takes us all the way to Calabria in southern Italy. The common thread is the Anelis identity: interesting wines presented through equally individual artwork.

L’Imperatrice is particularly interesting because of its grape. Magliocco Canino is an indigenous southern Italian red variety closely associated with Calabria, and you don’t come across it very often outside the region.

Here it gives Anelis the opportunity to offer something rather different from another Cabernet, Merlot or Malbec. The result is a distinctly southern Italian red with ripe fruit, savoury Mediterranean character and plenty of personality.

And true to Anelis style, the packaging is part of the fun. The wonderfully regal woman on the label — complete with crown, sunglasses and wine glass — makes L’Imperatrice as much of a conversation starter on the table as the wine itself.

Explore more in our Red wine collection.