It is well known that when people talk about Basilicata they immediately think of Aglianico del Vulture. But Vulture is a cool land, which also suits white grapes very well, although they are in the minority. Try it to believe.
Cold climate and volcanic soils: that ancient volcano that is Mount Vulture seems an ideal area for white wines. The thing that perhaps makes us forget is the fact that there is no grape variety that is the identity of the place (as happens, for example, in San Gimignano with Vernaccia, or in the Castelli di Jesi with Verdicchio, or in Irpinia with Fiano and Greco and so on).
This area contains both grape varieties of Greek origin, such as Muscat or Malvasia, and Nordic varieties, such as Gewürztraminer and Müller Thurgau. Look combination, all aromatic grape varieties. Of course, there is no shortage of grapes from “neighbors” such as Fiano, Falanghina and Greco bianco and even international classics such as Chardonnay and Sauvignon.
With this palette of grape varieties, it is easy to see how genuine “goodies” can be found at more than honest prices.
We have selected two, the Basilicata Bianco Il Manfredi 2022 Re Manfredi and the Basilicata Falanghina Vulcanico 2022 Paternoster. Deliberately, the vintages chosen are not the ones that are coming out now, but those of last year: an extra year in bottle enriches these wines with nuances that it is a shame to miss.
The modernity of Re Manfredi
For the Vulture Re Manfredi is a large winery, with its more than 100 hectares of vineyards. It is actually a medium-sized reality that belongs to the Italian Wine Group, a large constellation of companies that go to make up the largest winemaking entity in Italy. Year after year, it stands out more and more in the regional scene, and all of its wines are of the highest level. Think of the Aglianico del Vulture Superiore Serpara, an absolute standout, as well as the Aglianico del Vulture Re Manfredi or Taglio del Tralcio. But although his reds are unquestionable, the King Manfredi Bianco (which with the 2023 vintage takes the name Bianca degli Svevi) literally won us over.
Paternoster’s historicity
We then move on to Barile’s historic company Paternoster, a winery that will turn a century old next year. In August 2016 it changed ownership, having been purchased by the well-known Verona-based company Tommasi, an entity that is expanding with shrewd acquisitions throughout the country. Paternoster’s organically farmed vineyards climb to 643 meters above sea level, divided into small parcels among the districts of Barile. Especially Aglianico, but also the Falanghina we find in this agile white.
Related articles: Volcanic whites, but from Vulture | DoctorWine[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
TO READ THE WINE DESCRIPTIONS, WITH SCORE AND AVERAGE SHELF PRICE, CLICK ON THE TABS BELOW.
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