2/13/2020 Let's Tour Italy's Lesser Known Regions: Basilicata and Molise SUSANNAH GOLD, FWS, DWS, VIA AMBASSADOR VIGNETO COMMUNICATIONS FEBRUARY 12TH, 2020 Location – Basilicata & Molise Region: Basilicata Surface (sq mi) 3889 Vineyard (acres) 12,379 Provinces Potenza Matera From Istituto Commercio Estero (ICE) Viticultural History Basilicata – First viticulture was brought by the Lucans, then flourished with the Greeks Basilicata was part of Magna Grecia (Greater Greece) Not much is known about the quality of the wines or what their market was Basilicata is also called Lucania First writing about Basilicata wines was during the Roman Era under Horace and Pliny the Elder. Horace was born in Basilicata, in Venosa Little discussed for the next 1000 years until 17th century when wines from Melfi were mentioned. Melfi is on the border of Campania and Puglia 1 2/13/2020 More Recent History Melfi mentioned in the 19th Century as the hub of Lucan viticulture During the 20th century, other areas were also mentioned Some grape varieties from different areas in Italy arrived after Italian Unification Yet Basilicata remained largely isolated from other regions Vulture became an important area. Volcano last exploded 40,000 years ago Most wines were consumed locally and were ready to drink wines not made for long aging. Basilicata was a poor region and sparsely populated as well. Emigration hasn’t help either and continues to this day Main industry is tourism and agriculture Geography Mountainous region (47%) The three main peaks dotted across the region are Monte Pollino at 2238m (7375ft), Monte Sirino at 2005m (6578ft) and the extinct volcano Monte Vulture at 1326m (4350ft). Two lakes inside the Volcanic crater Hilly (45%) The only flat land is around the town of Metaponto, a Greek settlement where some think Aglianico made it’s first appearance Lucan Apennines run down the middle of the region Geography Basilicata is one of Italy’s lesser known regions for its wines and its cultural traditions. It is one of the least densely populated regions, 19th out of 20 regions in terms of population density, 18th of 20 in terms of population numbers, 14th out of 20 in terms of its’ territory. Touches both the Ionian and Tyrrhenian Seas It borders are Puglia to the North and East, Campania to the West and Calabria to the South. 2 2/13/2020 Soils Western Area is comprised on limestone and sandstone rock In the North, Mount Vulture is located which is a volcano Moving towards Murge, there are compact clay and sands with marine deposits ©iStockphoto/Thinkstock Climate Continental inland and at the higher altitude Frequent breezes Frequent snowfall during the winter Summer is mild and short On the coast though, the climate is more Mediterranean and the summers are hot in the hilly areas Near the Murge, there can be intense heat with drought conditions From Vinous.com Denominations From Federdoc 3 2/13/2020 Denomination: Aglianico del Vulture DOC Aglianico del Vulture DOC established in 1971 15 Municipalities all in the Potenza Province Grape Variety: 100% Aglianico Vineyard Area: 615 Ha Vineyard elevation: 200-700 meters asl Production: 9, 260 hl Wine Style: Dry Red but some sparkling wine made as well Minimum Alcohol: 12.5% Residual Sugar: Maximum 10g/l (1%) for Rosso. Sparkling wine can be Brut or extra dry Aging requirements: 10 months for red wine, 9 months for sparkling wine. Sparkling wine is only made using the traditional bottle fermentation. Denomination: Aglianico del Vulture Superiore DOCG Aglianico del Vulture DOCG established in 2010 Grape Variety: 100% Aglianico Vineyard Area: 82 Ha Wine Style: Dry Red and Riserva Minimum Alcohol: 13.5% Aging requirements: Three years including 12 months in barrel and 12 months in bottle Riserva aging requirements: Five years including 24 months in barrel and 12 months in bottle From Vinous.com Matera – Fun Facts Town settled since the 10th century B.C. One of the oldest inhabited regions in the World The town lies in a small canyon carved out by the Gravina River Famous for its Sassi – cave dwelling in use for millennium – dug into the calcareous rock Rupestrian Churches World Heritage Site in 1993 2019 Capital of Europe “Cristo si e fermato ad Eboli” – Carlo Levi Pier Paolo Pasolini – The Gospel According to Matthew Mel Gibson Movie – The Passion of Christ Garth Davis – Mary Magdalene 4 2/13/2020 Denomination: Matera DOC Matera DOC 2005 Matera Bianco/Matera Spumante, minimum 70% Malavasia, Minimum 10% Greco.Maximum 20% other authorized non- aromatic varieties Matera Greco, Minimum 85% Greco Bianco, 15% other authorized non-aromatic varieties Matera Rosso, Minimum 60% Sangiovese Matera Primitivo, Minimum 90% Primitivo, up to 10% authorized varieties Matera Rosso Moro, Minimum 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, Minimum 20% Primitivo, 10% Merlot and 10% other authorized varieties ©iStockphoto/Thinkstock Denomination: Grottino di Roccanova DOC DOC established in 2009 Wine Styles, Red, White and Rosato White – 80% Malvasia plus other authorized white varieties Red and Rosato – 60-85% Sangiovese, 5-30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5-30% Malvasia Nera di Basilicata, 5-30% Montepulciano, 10% other authorized varieties Minimum alcohol level: 11% Bianco, 11.5% Rosato, 12% Rosso, 13% Riserva Aging requirements: 5 months Bianco and Rosato, 9 months for Rosso, 36 months for Riserva IGT Designation, Outsiders Buy In Basilicata IGT Groups from outside the region are betting on a comeback – GIV, others from Tuscany, Veneto, Campania 5 2/13/2020 Denomination: Terra dell’Alta Val d’Agri DOC DOC established in 2003 Wine Styles, Red, Rosato, Riserva Rosato –Minimum 50% Merlot, Minimum 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, Minimum 10% Malvasia Nera di Basilicata, Maximum 20% other authorized varieties. Rosso and Rosso Riserva – Minimum 50% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, Maximum 20% other authorized varieties Maximum Vineyard Elevation: 800 meters Minimum alcohol level: 11.5% Rosato, 12% Rosso, 12.5% Riserva Aging requirements: 12 months for Rosso, 24 months for Riserva Grape Varieties: Aglianico Considered one of Italy’s three noble red grape varieties together with Sangiovese and Nebbiolo Long thought to come from Greece, Attilio Scienza, Italy’s preeminent grape geneticist, the word Aglianico actually comes from a Spanish word that means field. Main grape variety in Falernian – the famous wine from Campania that they drank during the Roman Era Planted in Southern Italy – Campania, Basilicata, Molise and Puglia Trained low to the ground Small and compact bunches, thick skinned and rich in color, tannin, acidity and extract Late ripening variety, mid October to early November Intense, full bodied wines with noticeable tannins and acidity and moderate to high alcohol Aromas: spice, earth, floral and sometimes gamey Wood aging generally chestnut but some producers are using French oak Aglianico Campania V Basilicata Aglianico from Campania and from Vulture are the same variety, albeit not exact the same due to intravarietal variation. Three major biotypes – Taurasi, Taburno and del Vulture. Taurasi has the smallest berries and is the most floral. Taburno larger bunches and ripens earlier. Vulture has the most fruit and mineral concentration Long hot summer days give darkest wines with noticeable violet aromas Most producers from Vulture grow all three biotypes Aglianicone is another variety all together Grows well at altitude Has an affinity with Volcanic soils, complex smoky notes 6 2/13/2020 Grape Varieties: Malvasia Bianca di Basilicata c Belongs to the Malvasia family of grapes Name comes from Monevasia, the town in Greece in the Peloponnese where sweet wines were produced which were exported to Europe by the Venetians Malavasia became a generic name for this family of grape varieties Malvasia Bianca di Basilicata is similar to Malvasia Aromatica di Candia Considered one of the Malvasie Aromatiche Largely used in blends, brings acidity and fragrance Small, white berry, waxy green skin, medium size bunch Ripens in Mid-September Grape Varieties: Malvasia Nera di Basilicata This red grape variety tends to be used as a blending grape rather than as a monovarietal. It brings aromatics, alcohol and acidity to the blend. It grow around the cities of Matera and Potenza. It is part of the Grottino di Roccanova DOC, which was given that designation in 2009. It is blended with Sangiovese, Montepulciano and Cabernet Sauvignon in the DOC Producers to Watch Basilisco Bisceglia Francesco Marino Regio Cantina Cantine Cifarelli Grifalco San Martino Cantina del Notaio I Gelsi Società Agricola Ditaranto Cantina di Venosa Il Passo Taverna Carbone Michele Laluce Terra degli Svevi Re Manfredi D’Angelo Musto Carmelitano Terra di Re Donato D’Angelo Paternoster Vigne Mastrodomenico Elena Fucci Poggio Anima Vigneti del Vulture 7 2/13/2020 Molise – Second Smallest Italian Region Region: Molise Surface (sq mi) 1722 Vineyard (acres) 13,247 Viticultural History Traces of ancient viticultural practices that date to pre-Roman times Local population were the Samnites, then the Etruscans and then the Romans When the Romans created a colony and took over, the area became sparsely populated Later Ligurian tribes occupied the area and began cultivation of crops more formally Really only mentioned after Italian Unification Part of Abruzzo until 1963 Became independent from Abruzzo as a wine region in the 20th century Affected by phyollera More Facts About Molise