GRAPES

“In Basilicata, it is important to highlight the Vulture region, whose fertile eastern and southern slopes are now covered with flourishing vineyards almost exclusively made up of Aglianico. The best exposures are in the warmer regions, due to their altitude, the best products are obtained in claycalcareous soils, especially if they are pebble, and volcanic soils.” (Carlucci from “Ampelographie 1901-1910”). The planting densities are about 6.000/7.000 vines per hectare, yields in good production years never exceed 50 quintals per hectare. New studies on the viticulture varieties (Basi_vin Sud) cultivated in Basilicata attest the presence of Aglianico since remote times, about 2,600 years ago. There are no links on the Greek origin of this vine, we have instead traces of its presence in the era before the Greek colonization, it can be attested that this vine originated in Enotria. From genetic investigations it has been possible to reconstruct the connection between some vines, Pinot Noir predates Aglianico and is closely linked to it. Aglianico is its descendant, Pinot Noir is the ancestor and the birth of Aglianico could have been at the hands of man, in Lucania, following clonal selections. The diffusion of the Pinot Noir could be originated from the colony founded in the VI sec. B.C by a Greek people, the Focei. It is Elea, landing place and place of departure towards Marseilles of a new trade route. The Focei moved different goods, wines and vine shoots and probably also Pinot Noir, the smoky and iridescent wine in its chromatic reflections. Another grape variety present in the Vulture area is the Malvasia Bianca of Basilicata, we still do not know where it comes from, the routes of Malvasia are endless. The Balkan or Adriatic routes and the Venetian colonization could give reliable answers. The Malvasia of our interest certainly has Greek origin and precisely of origin from the island of Crete. Probably in the middle of 1400 it was the inhabitants of Atella town who moved it to Milan and more precisely to the vineyard of Leonardo da Vinci. Well acclimatised on the Vulture where it finds the best conditions on dry soils, long cluster, seedlings, and medium-sized berry. Its aromatic complement is wide and complex, acacia flowers, apricot and mineral notes characterize the one cultivated on the slopes of the Vulture.