Basilicata, a small, mountainous region in southern Italy, punches above its weight thanks to the slopes of the extinct Mount Vulture. Wine history here is ancient but largely local until recent decades, when winemakers began highlighting the unique volcanic soils and high-elevation exposure. The region is best known for powerful, ageworthy Aglianico wines—rich, tannic reds with dark fruit and mineral backbone—alongside lighter, aromatic whites and passito or fortified expressions from local varieties. Producers balance traditional methods and modern cellar techniques, producing wines that express the rugged landscape and sharp diurnal shifts between warm days and cool nights.
Basilicata is inland and mountainous, with vineyards on the slopes of Mount Vulture and the southern Apennines. Soils are predominantly volcanic around Vulture—stony, mineral-rich and well-draining—while other areas show clay and calcareous influences. Elevations commonly range from 400 to 1,000 meters, producing warm daytime ripening tempered by cool nights and a continental-mediterranean mix that preserves acidity and enhances aromatic clarity.
Discover the grapes that define Basilicata.
