Aglianico del Vulture Superiore DOCG is the leading denomination for Aglianico grown in the volcanic landscape of Monte Vulture, in northern Basilicata. Vineyards occupy slopes and elevated plateaus around the extinct volcano, where ash, tuff, lava-derived deposits and clay occur in varied combinations. These soils offer both drainage and water retention, and are often reflected in mineral, earthy and balsamic nuances. Altitude, sunny days and cool nights favour a long, gradual ripening season, while continental influences preserve the firm acidity and aromatic definition that distinguish the area.
The wine is made from Aglianico, a late-ripening red grape with naturally high tannin and considerable ageing potential. In Vulture, it is cultivated in ventilated sites, commonly on trellises and, in traditional settings, as bush vines. Canopy management, careful control of crop load and a late harvest are essential to achieve full phenolic maturity while retaining freshness and varietal character.
In the cellar, grapes are generally destemmed and fermented on their skins. Extraction is tailored to Aglianico’s thick skins and assertive tannins, seeking depth of colour and structure without sacrificing balance. The designation requires extended maturation: at least three years from 1 November of the harvest year, including a minimum of one year in wood. Large casks and smaller oak vessels may both be used to refine the grape’s muscular texture and develop layered aromas of dark fruit, spice, tobacco, leather and volcanic earth. The DOCG recognition confirms the historic standing of Vulture as one of Italy’s most distinctive territories for Aglianico, where volcanic origin, elevation and patient maturation shape wines of intensity, freshness and longevity.
