Those who, like us, have been frequenting Basilicata for decades are well aware of the wealth of aromas and flavours that the wines of these lands possess. The fact is that the general public still lacks a solid perception of the value of all this, and the region and its wine production remain something of a hidden gem in the national landscape.
Cantine del Notaio
Once again this year, tastings of Lucanian wines have provided us with wonderful emotions, especially regarding Vulture, the most renowned district where the vast majority of the region's wineries operate and produce the largest quantities of wine. This is why the area has managed to carve out a space on the stage of significant wine regions, thanks to its millennia-old winemaking vocation that makes the most of the area's principal grape variety, Aglianico. This grape is also the star of the wine we have awarded for the best quality-price ratio in Basilicata.
In fact, the great red grape of Southern Italy probably originates from these very hills at the foot of Monte Vulture, where, in Roman times, the Gens Allia had extensive vineyards and traded their wine, Allianicum, throughout the Empire. As is well known, the grape then found its ideal terroir on the slopes of this extinct volcano; thus, in the wines of this denomination (DOCG in the Superiore version), beyond the classic characteristics of the variety – fruity intensity, firm tannic structure, and pronounced acidity – there is an alluring mineral suggestion, often almost smoky.
As a result, important wines with long ageing potential are born, but alongside these, there are increasingly agile, light, and juicy versions.
The best Value Aglianico del Vulture Wines
The following list includes the Aglianico del Vulture wines that we most appreciated for their quality-price ratio and which we have included in Gambero Rosso's Berebene 2025 and Vini d'Italia 2025 guides.
Erminia and Rocco d'Angelo craft a well-curated range of local wines from estate-owned vineyards and carefully selected suppliers. The Aglianico del Vulture '22 stands out for its excellent quality-price ratio.
The 400 Some has a full body, with juicy and dense fruit notes of blackberry, black cherry, and blueberry, brightened by spicy nuances, supported by velvety tannins and a voluminous palate. This family project began in the 1970s with brothers Vittorio and Enzo Carbone, was interrupted in the late 1980s, and was revived in 2005 thanks to the passion of Vittorio's children, Luca and Sara, who proudly lead this renaissance project. The Carbone family passionately tends to their eight hectares of vineyards dedicated to Aglianico, Fiano, and Moscato. Their modern winery is located in Contrada Braide, but the heart of the business lies in the evocative underground barrel cellar carved into volcanic tuff in the historic centre of Melfi.
The Calice 2022 version boasts a deep ruby colour and a complex nose with notes of ripe cherry, spices, and Mediterranean herbs, forming a bouquet of rare finesse. On the palate, it reveals a slender body and great depth, combining an extraordinary drinking pleasure with overall harmony. Donato D'Angelo has dedicated his professional life to Aglianico del Vulture. Today, the estate comprises twenty hectares spread across Barile, Ripacandida, and Maschito, in the heart of the classic zone. Supporting him are his wife, Filomena Ruppi, an oenologist like their daughter Emiliana, while the other daughter, Erminia, manages administration. Their wines have a classic and elegant style and are among the finest expressions of the denomination.
Cantina del Vulture is the oldest cooperative winery in Vulture (founded in 1954), now comprising 30 members and over 100 hectares of well-maintained vineyards. Among its labels, we highlight the Aglianico Carteggio '20, with a beautiful ruby colour and aromas of small fruits, spices, and Mediterranean scrub.
The Casello 105 '21 is a selection of grapes from the Vigneto Ferrovia. After steel vinification, it matures for about a year in amphora. The result is a fleshy, fresh red wine with an elegant tannic texture. Ruggiero Potito founded Tenuta I Gelsi just over twenty years ago, primarily dedicated to Aglianico del Vulture, crafting a well-curated selection of labels from estate-owned vineyards.
Excellent is the Certamen '20, an Aglianico del Vulture from vines over twenty years old that matures exclusively in steel. The result is a red wine with a rather classic aromatic profile of ripe red and black fruits, but what stands out is the savoury, deep palate with elegant tension. In Piani di Camera, near Venosa, the Bonifacio family has been producing excellent wines from their 15 hectares of vineyards for over twenty years.
The Genesi '22 is a generously structured Aglianico that matures for six months in barrique. After further bottle ageing, it presents a rich aromatic profile of black fruits, spices, and toasted notes, with a sip marked by soft and savoury tannins.
The two Aglianico 2021 wines presented to us this year by Cantina di Venosa are very good.
Gesualdo is a structured and rich wine, matured in new wood, offering fleshy, ripe fruit and extremely fine-grained tannins. The Aglianico Verbo '21 is also structured but slightly dried by the wood. Founded in 1957, Cantina di Venosa is one of the most important cooperatives in Southern Italy. Today, it has 350 members with a vineyard area of 800 hectares, most of which are located in the municipality of Venosa, the largest producer of Aglianico grapes in the Vulture area.
- Aglianico del Vulture Gesualdo '21 - Cantina di Venosa
- Aglianico del Vulture Verbo '21 - Cantina di Venosa
The Gricos '22 is also very good, with a beautiful ruby colour with violet reflections. On the nose, it opens with an intriguing bouquet of blackberry, morello cherry, and ripe plum, enriched by Mediterranean and balsamic notes. On the palate, it is solid and firm, showcasing smooth tannins.
After twenty years of experience in Tuscany, in 2004, Cecilia and Fabrizio Piccin moved to Basilicata to dedicate themselves to the production of Aglianico del Vulture. Spread across Maschito, Venosa, Rapolla, and Ginestra, the 16 hectares of the estate represent the best exposures of the denomination. Today, the company is led by their sons Lorenzo, who manages the vineyard and winery, and Andrea, who handles commercial operations.
Il Repertorio '22 is a characterful red, agile and with great depth, rich in notes of small fruits and Mediterranean scrub, featuring smooth tannins and excellent aromatic persistence.
Gerardo Giuratrabocchetti took on a winning challenge when, together with his wife Marcella Libutti, he began enhancing Aglianico del Vulture in 1998, drawing on the passion and winemaking tradition of his family spanning seven generations.
Serra del Prete '21 consolidates its reputation as one of the most fascinating labels of the denomination. It has a beautiful ruby colour, elegant aromas of red fruits (with morello cherry and blackberry in the foreground), a pleasant spicy note, and hints of aromatic herbs. On the palate, it is fleshy, rich, and endowed with good tension, freshness, and dynamism. Musto Carmelitano has been a family-run winery for over three generations. Since 2005, the siblings Elisabetta and Luigi have managed the business.
Synthesi '20 is a different wine from what the winery has accustomed us to so far and, in our opinion, marks a turning point in the stylistic evolution of this historic maison. The flagship wine of this winery stands out for its clarity, typicity, and stylistic precision. It is creamy in fruit, elegant and subtle, with well-integrated wood notes and mature tannins that create a harmonious and highly pleasant profile.
The history of Paternoster began in 1925 with Anselmo, the founder and pioneer of Italian viticulture, and continued with his son Giuseppe, an innovator in the winery with new vinification methods and a pioneer in the use of barriques. Today, Paternoster has twenty hectares of vineyards, mainly spread across different districts of the municipality of Barile.
The Aglianico Taglio del Tralcio '22 is excellent, made from a late harvest. It stands out for its great dynamism, pleasant menthol notes, and opulent creaminess.
Re Manfredi is part of the Gruppo Italiano Vini and was founded in 1998. Over the years, it has grown in size and today has around 110 hectares of vineyards, mainly in Venosa but also in Barile and Maschito. The jewel of the winery is the Serpara vineyard, which produces the estate’s most important label. The constantly renewed and updated winery is a true technological gem.
Arteteke is a social cooperative that focuses on integrating individuals with vulnerabilities into the workforce. Judging by the excellent results of our tastings, organic viticulture is an area they master well. Aglianico Russe '20 is proof of this.
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