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vines - Photo © Gardawind
Basilicata Wines
Basilicata, also known as Lucania, is an often neglected region of arid hills and desolate mountains that can be bitterly cold for a southerly place. But the cool upland climate has its advantages for viticulture, in wines that can show enviable aromas and flavors.
Basilicata has only one DOC in Aglianico del Vulture, but that, at least, gives the inhabitants a source of pride. One of southern Italy's finest red wines, it is gradually gaining admirers elsewhere.
Basilicata has three DOCs: the classic red Aglianico del Vulture and the recent appellations of Terra dell’Alta Val d’Agri and Matera.
Aglianico, one of southern Italy’s finest red wines, is rapidly gaining admirers elsewhere. The Aglianico vine – also the base of Campania’s Taurasi – was brought to Basilicata by the Greeks, perhaps as long ago as the 6th or 7th century BC (its name is a corruption of Hellenico).
The slopes of the extinct volcano of Monte Vulture produce a robust, deeply colored wine that can improve for many years from fine vintages, becoming increasingly refined and complex in flavor. There are also youthful versions of the wine, sometimes semisweet and even sparkling.
Terra dell’Alta Val d’Agri red and rosé are based on Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Matera uses a range of varieties in its six types of wine, including the red Sangiovese, Primitivo and Cabernet Sauvignon and the white Greco Bianco and Malvasia Bianca di Basilicata.
I Love Italian Wine and Food - The Basilicata Region
An article by: Levi Reiss
...Basilicata devotes about 60 thousand acres to grapevines, it ranks
17th among the 20 Italian regions. Its total annual wine production is
less than 13 million gallons, also giving it a 17th place. About 73% of
the wine production is red, leaving 27% for white. The region produces
two DOC wines, Aglianico del Vulture, reviewed below, and Terre dell
Alta Val d’Agri...
Wine Reviewed Cantine di Palma DOC ‘Il Nibbio Grigio’ Aglianico
Vulture 2000 13% alcohol about $14
Let’s start with the marketing materials. “Medium ruby in color with
aromas of dried berries, leather, figs, dried flowers and spice. This
medium-bodied wine has a rustic style, it’s quite assertive on the
palate with some dusty tannins. It would be great with lamb chops or
braised pork ribs and could reward 2-3 years further cellaring. (August
2005).”...
The first pairing was with meatballs and potatoes. The wine had a
fine nose. It was quite full-bodied, and tasted of tobacco (I’m not a
smoker) and cherries.
While the wine was very pleasant it was shorter than I had hoped. It was
quite enjoyable on its own.
My reactions were basically the same when tasting this wine with beef
ribs, except that the wine was moderately long. It was easy to drink but
not light... read the
entire article...
Italy Wine
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