We can only congratulate the producers from Basilicata who achieved our top ratings during the tastings for the Vini d'Italia 2025 guide by Gambero Rosso. They presented us with wines of great calibre, including four Aglianico del Vulture wines that interpreted the volcanic territory and its signature grape with creativity, sensitivity, and intelligence. Four exemplary stories— Terra dei Re, Donato D’Angelo, Cantine del Notaio, and Elena Fucci—where all the ingredients for success, starting with the professionalism of those involved, are present and where investments are continuously renewed, and it shows.
Tre Bicchieri 2025 from Basilicata: the leading wineries
Terre dei Re was founded in 2000 and reflects the passion of the Leone and Rabasco families, who carefully cultivate 11 hectares of vineyards across Rionero, Barile, Melfi, and Rapolla. In their winery in Rionero, a refined range of wines comes to life, and once again this year, we were impressed by their completeness and connection to the land. Indeed, Nocte 2020 confirms these qualities: a modern Aglianico, rich but well-balanced.
Donato D’Angelo has dedicated his professional life to Aglianico del Vulture. Today, the winery covers 20 hectares across Barile, Ripacandida, and Maschito, in the heart of the classic zone. His wife, Filomena Ruppi, is also an oenologist, as is their daughter, Emiliana, while their other daughter, Erminia, manages the administration. Their wines have a classic, elegant style and are among the finest expressions of the denomination. The complexity, finesse, and depth of Calice 2022 demonstrate this.
Cantine del Notaio is the passion project of Gerardo Giuratrabocchetti, who, alongside his wife Marcella Libutti, began enhancing the value of Aglianico del Vulture in 1998. The winery boasts over 50 hectares of vineyards spread across seven main plots, located at altitudes between 430 and 600 metres, with vines over 100 years old, growing in volcanic soil. From here comes Repertorio 2022, a red wine with character and smooth tannins.
We close our overview with Elena Fucci’s winery, the result of a passionate, courageous, and determined choice. In 2000, she decided that the small handful of hectares bought by her grandfather Generoso in the 1960s in Contrada Solagna del Titolo would be her life’s path. She earned a degree in Oenology and transformed the winery into a small jewel of technology and sustainability. Today, the estate spans nine hectares, with some vines over seventy years old. Once again, Elena presented us with an outstanding version of Aglianico: Titolo 2022 is one of those wines that manages to combine the exuberant structure of Aglianico with a refined and elegant silhouette.
Looking at the names, we notice they have been part of our list for many years now. It’s time to introduce new names and expand this list. The number of wines deservedly reaching our finals is growing, and this gives us real hope for the future.