2020 San Martino Aglianico del Vulture Arberesko

Basilicata is in southern Italy, bordered by the regions of Puglia, Campania and Calabria. With 26,800 acres of vineyards, Basilicata is Italy’s 17th largest appellation. The region has one DOCG, Aglianico del Vulture Superiore, and four DOCs, Aglianico del Vulture, Matera, Terre dell’Alta Val d’Agri, and Grottino di Roccanova. The DOCG was created in 2010. Before that there was only one DOC, and that was for Aglianico del Vulture. Though red and white wines are made in Basilicata, the undisputed star is Aglicanico del Vulture, a powerhouse tannic red with high acidity and floral notes. Historically Aglianico grapes were shipped off to northern Italy and sometimes Bordeaux to give structure to weak local vintages. Though the name Aglianico del Vulture sounds odd to English speakers, Vulture is the name of an extinct volcano in the center of the appellation, and the volcanic soils of the local vineyards owe much of their richness to the volcano. Aglianico is grown in several southern regions and is the foundation of the Taurasi wine of neighboring Campania. But many wine writers consider Aglianico del Vulture to be superior to Aglianico from other regions, and Aglianico del Vulture is now one of Italy’s new generation collectible wines. The white grapes grown in Basilicata are Malvasia and Moscato. There is also a Basilicata IGT, or Indicazione Geographica Tipica. Gambero Rosso has called Basilicata “one of Italy’s final frontiers…The commercial success of these wines, both in Italy and abroad, confirms the state of grace achieved for (Basilicata) labels.”