Basilicata, in southern Italy, is a region whose name crops up only very rarely in wine circles. It is home to just four DOCs, which collectively cover only two bottles in every hundred produced here (the remaining 98% is sold either under IGT titles or - more likely - Vino da Tavola).
Winemaking in Basilicata dates back over a thousand years. While in central and northern Italy it was the Etruscans and Romans who pioneered local winemaking, in the south this task was largely undertaken by seafaring Greeks. Basilicata was also influenced by the Byzantines, who ruled the area during two distinct periods in both the 6th and 9th centuries and gave the region its current name (from Greek basilikos, meaning prince and governor).
It was during the Middle Ages that Aglianico (then known as Ellenico) took its place as the leading wine grape variety – although recent theories lean towards the introduction of the grape (known as vino de llanos, or wine of the plains) under Aragonese rule in the late Middle Ages.
Basilicata may not be a particularly affluent region, yet it is rich in natural beauty. Its 3861 square miles (10,000 square km) of land is bordered to the north by Campania and Puglia and to the south by Calabria. Predominantly landlocked, with the Ionian Sea on one side and the Tyrrhenian Sea on the other, it features stunning mountain and hill ranges. In fact it is one of the most mountainous regions in Italy, with around 47% mountains and a further 45% hills – only 8% of the surface area is flat. The three main peaks dotted across the region are Monte Pollino at 7375ft (2238m), Monte Sirino at 6578ft (2005m) and the volcanic Monte Vulture at 4350ft (1326m).
Compared to the rest of Italy, the total wine production in Basilicata is very small: less than 500,000 hL, of which only 3% comes under the DOC designation. The main area for viticulture lies in the heart of the fertile Vulture Massif in the north, located around the extinct volcano of Mount Vulture on volcanic soils. Although the mountainous terrain and harsh weather makes vine-growing a challenge, this area still enjoys an abundance of sunshine throughout the growing season and cool temperatures around harvest, thanks to the climatic variations; cool Balkan breezes, travelling across the Adriatic and Puglia, help moderate the temperatures, and the Apennines create a barrier to the mild currents from the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west. In this hilly territory the local variety, Aglianico del Vulture, reigns, producing quality wines which exhibit fine aromas and flavors.
While Aglianico is the ‘celebrity’ of the region, the huge range of ‘understudy’ varieties that for years seldom gained attention are now taking centre stage thanks to IGT regulations. There are some very pleasant examples of Moscato, and some superb Malvasia, the best of which come from the Vulture zone and the eastern Bradano Valley. Primitivo, Sangiovese and Montepulciano also do particularly well, as does Bombino Nero. The Aglianico grape is the star of the Aglianico del Vulture wine, but expands further afield to the plains of Matera where it is used in Vino da Tavola wines.
The future appears brighter for Basilicata. The established DOC Aglianico del Vulture has gained an excellent reputation for some of the finest wines in Italy, and there are now two more DOCs included in the portfolio: Matera and Terre dell’Alta Val d'Agri.
Terre dell’Alta Val d'Agri, in the province of Potenza, was awarded its DOC in 2003, and Matera (its name comes from the city of the Sassi, world-renowned for its cave dwellings) joined in 2005. The duo is known for producing some excellent wines from indigenous varieties including Malvasia Bianca, Malvasia Nera and Moscato Bianco (di Basilicata), as well as Aglianico, Primitivo and Sangiovese. The two internationals that have also contributed to the wines’ standing are Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.
There are several styles made under the DOC regulations. Terre dell’Alta Val d'Agri’s are Rosso, Rosso Riserva and Rosato, while Matera produces three reds and three whites (one of which is a sparkling wine). The reds are Rosso, Primitivo and Moro, and the whites are Greco, Bianco and Spumante; the sparkling wine is produced by natural re-fermentation, and the winemaking process carried out entirely in this province.
