Basilicata

Question 1

DOC/Ps of Basilicata

Answer 1

Aglianico del Vulture DOC
Grottino di Roccanova DOC
Matera DOC
Terre dell’Alta Val d’Agri DOC

DOCG/Ps of Basilicata
Aglianico del Vulture Superiore DOCG

Question 2

Aglianico del Vulture Superiore DOCG?

Answer 2

Region: Basilicata
Province: Potenza
Communes of Production: Rionero in Vulture, Barile, Rapolla, Ripacandida, Ginestra, Maschito, Forenza, Acerenza, Melfi, Atella, Venosa, Lavello, Palazzo San Gervasio, Banzi, Genzano di Lucania
Denominazione (Rosso):
Aglianico del Vulture Superiore
Aglianico del Vulture Superiore Riserva
Varieties: 100% Aglianico
Minimum Alcohol: 13.5%
Aging Requirements:
Superiore: 12 months in barrel, 12 months in bottle, not to be released before November 1 of the third year following the harvest
Riserva: 2 years in barrel and 2 years in bottle, not to be released before November 1 of the fifth year following the harvest
Minimum Planting Density: 3,350 vines per hectare
Maximum Yields: 8 tons/ha, 52 hl/ha
Vineyard Elevation: 200 to 700 meters
Principal Soils: Volcanic

Question 3

Aglianico del Vulture DOC?

Answer 3

Region: Basilicata
    Province: Potenza
    Communes of Production: Rionero in Vulture, Barile, Rapolla, Ripacandida, Ginestra, Maschito, Forenza, Acerenza, Melfi, Atella, Venosa, Lavello, Palazzo San Gervasio, Banzi, Genzano di Lucania.  (Specifically excludes: Sant'Ilario, Riparossa, Macchia del comune di Atella)
    Styles: 
        Rosso
        Rosso Spumante (Traditional Method)
    Varieties: 
        100% Aglianico

    Minimum Alcohol: 12.5%
    Residual Sugar:
        Rosso: Max 10 g/l
    Minimum Total Acidity: 
        Rosso: 4.5 g/l
        Spumante: 5 g/l
    Aging Requirements: 
        Rosso: Wines may be released on September 1 of the year after harvest
        Spumante: The refermentation process in bottle must take place over no less than 9 months.

Additional Requirements: Rosso wines for this DOC must be vintage dated.  Spumante wines do not have to list a vintage.
Minimum Planting Density: 3,350 vines per hectare
Maximum Yields: 10 tons/ha
Elevation: 200-700 meters

Question 4

Basilicata?

Answer 4

Basilicata, Italy’s third least populous region—only Molise and the Valle d’Aosta have a smaller population—is a mountainous, poor region producing little wine. Basilicata was long characterized by a sole DOC—Aglianico del Vulture—although the number of DOCs in the region has in recent years climbed to four.

Aglianico del Vulture remains the region’s only real wine of note, and arguably one of the finest expressions of the thick-skinned Aglianico grape. In 2010, Aglianico del Vulture Superiore was upgraded to DOCG. As a DOCG wine, Aglianico must show a minimum alcohol content of 13.5% and undergo three years of aging, including one in wood. If aged for a minimum five years, including two in wood, the wine may be labeled riserva. Grown on the volcanic soils of the slopes of Mount Vulture, Aglianico can develop great complexity as it slowly ripens, with harvest occurring in late October or early November.

For DOC wines, one year of aging is mandated. The wines may be dry (acsiutto) or off-dry (amabile) and still or spumante, although dry, still interpretations represent the DOC’s most serious wines.