THE WINERY
The winery Basilisco, since its start in the early 90s, aimed at the highest quality both in the vineyards and in the wine making thus becoming in a short time a pearl in the Southern Italian scenario. In 2011 Feudi di San Gregorio, the leading winery in the South of Italy and present in the Vulture region for over ten years, decided to start a project reclaiming its ancient tuff stone caves in the “Shesh”, the historic Park of cellars of Barile, and revamping this ancestral context. This move was animated by the firm belief in the uniqueness of this extraordinary viticulture area.
The acquisition of Basilisco with its beautiful tuff stone cellars and its vineyards in the most vocated location accomplished the plan and gave birth to a space of astonishing beauty in the historical heart of the Aglianico del Vulture production.
Viviana Malafarina is the “face and the soul” of Basilisco: she manages all the aspects of the winery and work with huge passion in the cellar guided by Pierpaolo Sirch who is also responsible for the vineyards.
THE WINERY
The winery Basilisco, since its start in the early 90s, aimed at the highest quality both in the vineyards and in the wine making thus becoming in a short time a pearl in the Southern Italian scenario.
In 2011 Feudi di San Gregorio, the leading winery in the South of Italy and present in the Vulture region for over ten years, decided to start a project reclaiming its ancient tuff stone caves in the “Shesh”, the historic Park of cellars of Barile, and revamping this ancestral context. This move was animated by the firm belief in the uniqueness of this extraordinary viticulture area.
The acquisition of Basilisco with its beautiful tuff stone cellars and its vineyards in the most vocated location accomplished the plan and gave birth to a space of astonishing beauty in the historical heart of the Aglianico del Vulture production.
Viviana Malafarina is the “face and the soul” of Basilisco: she manages all the aspects of the winery and work with huge passion in the cellar guided by Pierpaolo Sirch who is also responsible for the vineyards.
THE HISTORY OF THE CELLARS
The winery Basilisco is located in Via delle Cantine, in a XVIth century noble palace. The areas of vinification and storage are inside the fascinating caves chosen by Pierpaolo Pasolini to set his movie “Il Vangelo secondo Matteo”. In the XVth century, several groups of Albanian refugees escaped from Turkish pressure, settled down in some areas of Southern Italy creating proper enclaves which are still existing. Barile is an arbereshe (Italian-Albanian ethnic group) settlement and the dozens caves in the tuff stone,
characterizing its landscape, have been dig by the colonists as a shelter. Many tunnels twist and turn inside the tuff stone underneath the village. The caves facing North have a stable 16-18 °C degrees temperature, therefore are ideal as storage and they’ve always been used for processing and preserving oil and wine.
As in the old days, in the 8 caves of Basilisco, Aglianico del Vulture is vinified and set to rest inside the silent meander of the volcano.
THE HISTORY OF THE CELLARS
The winery Basilisco is located in Via delle Cantine, in a XVIth century noble palace.
The areas of vinification and storage are inside the fascinating caves chosen by Pierpaolo Pasolini to set his movie “Il Vangelo secondo Matteo”.
In the XVth century, several groups of Albanian refugees escaped from Turkish pressure, settled down in some areas of Southern Italy creating proper enclaves which are still existing.
Barile is an arbereshe (Italian-Albanian ethnic group) settlement and the dozens caves in the tuff stone, characterizing its landscape, have been dig by the colonists as a shelter.
Many tunnels twist and turn inside the tuff stone underneath the village. The caves facing North have a stable 16-18 °C degrees temperature, therefore are ideal as storage and they’ve always been used for processing and preserving oil and wine.
As in the old days, in the 8 caves of Basilisco, Aglianico del Vulture is vinified and set to rest inside the silent meander of the volcano.
THE WINES
In its wines Basilisco condenses today the spirit of this land,
its simple and immense wealth, his timeless tradition.
THE WINES
In its wines Basilisco condenses today the spirit of this land, its simple and immense wealth, his timeless tradition.
“Basilisco” in Greek means “little King”. This title designed the governors during the Byzantium Empire of “Basilicata” (literally “land of the Basileus”, ie the King).
“Teodosio”: this wine is named after a famous emperor, a Basilieus; the coin of the Vth century with Teodosio’s effigy became the symbol of our winery.
CRU
To emphasize the differences: this is the goal we are achieved when we saw the first release of new Crus from our Aglianico.
They are added to the existing wines of Basilisco estate.
While Basilisco wine is coming from the top selected grapes picked in all our vineyards in Vulture,
those 3 new single vineyards are the most interesting expressions and they are carefully studied and selected,
amongst different soils and similar exposures; they gave us unique wines with a defined character and a clear personality.
CRU
To emphasize the differences: this is the goal we are achieved when we saw the first release of new Crus from our Aglianico. They are added to the existing wines of Basilisco estate. While Basilisco wine is coming from the top selected grapes picked in all our vineyards in Vulture, those 3 new single vineyards are the most interesting expressions and they are carefully studied and selected, amongst different soils and similar exposures; they gave us unique wines with a defined character and a clear personality.
“Cruà”, a less powerful expression of Aglianico, always unmistakable in its varietal connotations, but extremely elegant and delicate.
“Storico”, in this vineyard-garden, where fruit trees abound, the old vines have always benefited from favorable environmental conditions and show a surprising balance.
“Fontanelle Basilisco”, a wine that can dispel the vision of Aglianico as a severe and demanding vine, recounting beauty and spontaneity.
“Fiordimarna”
VULTURE, VINEYARDS & TERRITORY
After the last eruption, 130000 years ago, nature found back its balance giving birth to a terroir with extraordinary features. Since then, the majestic volcano Vulture vigils above this territory, feeding a simple and spontaneous viticulture, full of small old vineyard “a capanno” (small 2/3 cane “tent”). Our 20 hectares are completely biological.Pierpaolo Sirch, viticulture expert and responsible of our vineyards,
manage the property in the belief that through allowing the plants and the soil to reach their balance it is possible to obtain the best fruit with the less work and intrusion. All our vineyards are in the most vocated area of Barile, between 450 and 600 mt above sea level, facing South-East. Among them “The Historical”, a beautiful old vineyard where vines grow on traditional “capanno” together with olive and fruit trees,
which makes our work quite complicated but gives us the best satisfaction on the field and in the glass. The harvest is done exclusively by hand. This allows us to pick grape by grape at the right moment, considering that, even if very close to each other, the micro-zones can be very different by soil and climate. The soil, volcanic, tuff stone and flysch in add to temperature range, enriches our wines full of fruit with unmistakable characteristics of freshness and minerality.
VULTURE, VINEYARDS & TERRITORY
After the last eruption, 130000 years ago, nature found back its balance giving birth to a terroir with extraordinary features. Since then, the majestic volcano Vulture vigils above this territory, feeding a simple and spontaneous viticulture, full of small old vineyard “a capanno” (small 2/3 cane “tent”). Our 20 hectares are completely biological.Pierpaolo Sirch, viticulture expert and responsible of our vineyards,
manage the property in the belief that through allowing the plants and the soil to reach their balance it is possible to obtain the best fruit with the less work and intrusion. All our vineyards are in the most vocated area of Barile, between 450 and 600 mt above sea level, facing South-East. Among them “The Historical”, a beautiful old vineyard where vines grow on traditional “capanno” together with olive and fruit trees,
which makes our work quite complicated but gives us the best satisfaction on the field and in the glass. The harvest is done exclusively by hand. This allows us to pick grape by grape at the right moment, considering that, even if very close to each other, the micro-zones can be very different by soil and climate. The soil, volcanic, tuff stone and flysch in add to temperature range, enriches our wines full of fruit with unmistakable characteristics of freshness and minerality.
