Basilicata

Basilicata, also known as Lucania, is an often neglected region of arid hills and desolate mountains that can be bitterly cold for a southerly place. But the cool upland climate has its advantages for viticulture, in wines that can show enviable aromas and flavors. Basilicata has only one DOC in Aglianico del Vulture, but that gives the inhabitants a source of pride. One of sourthern Italy's finest red wines, it is gradually gaining admirers elsewhere.

Regional Capital: Potenza Provinces: Matera, Potenza Basilicata ranks 14th in size among the regions (9,992 square kilometres) and 18th in population (619,000). Vineyards cover 16,300 hectares (16th) of which registered DOC plots total 1,470 hectares (17th). Annual wine production of 400,000 hectolitre (18th) includes 1.6 per cent or 6,500 hectolitres (18th) entirely red.

The Aglianico vine —which is also the base of Campania's vaunted Taurasi— was brought to Basilicata by the Greeks, perhaps as long ago as the sixth or seventh century BC. (Its name is derived of 'Hellenico'). On the slopes of the extinct volcano known as Monte Vulture it makes a robust, deeply coloured wine that from fine vintages can improve for many years, becoming increasingly refined and complex in flavor. There are also youthful versions of the wine, sometimes semi-sweet and even sparkling, but the dry "vecchio" or "riserva", after ageing in oak casks, rate the most serious consideration.

Aglianico is also used for "vini da tavola" in other parts of the region, notably in the east around Matera, where reds from Sangiovese and Montepulciano also originate. White wines of interest are the sweet Moscato and Malvasia, the best of which come from the Vulture zone and the eastern Bradano valley.