Mapping the Sparkling Wines of Italy: Basilicata and Calabria

The relative paucity of sparkling wine DOCs in the respective regions argues for combining Basilicata and Calabria into a single post.

Basilicata is 47% mountain, 45% hills and 8% flat lands. It is home to a total of four DOCs and is best known for its red wines made from Aglianico, a thick-skinned, high-acid grape which flourishes in the area around Mount Vulture. The Aglianico del Vulture wine was granted DOC status in 1971.

Vineyards in the Aglianico del Vulture region enjoy more sunshine hours than any other region in the world, with the best sites located on southeast slopes at elevations ranging between 300 and 500 m (the DOC laws stipulate altitudes between 200 and 700 m). Temperatures are lower at higher altitudes and this prevents grape sugar levels from rising too quickly.

Calabria was decimated by Phylloxera in the late 19th century and has not fully recovered. The region is less than 10% flat and this mountainous character has led to fragmented land ownership and widely dispersed vineyard zones.

The climate is warm and dry and the soils in the hills are of volcanic origin.

The sparkling wine map of the two zones is presented below.

The maps show only four, widely dispersed DOC zones in Basilicata and a greater number of (still widely dispersed) DOC zones in Calabria. Each of the two regions have two sparkling wine zones with the Calabrian Terre di Cosenza DOC occupying most of the upper half of the region.

The DOC sparkling wines in the two regions are stipulated metodo classico. In the case of Basilicata, the sparkling wines are both varietal, with the Matera Spumante made from Malvasia. The Aglianico del Vultura Spumante is a red sparkler made from grapes harvested earlier in the season to retain the acidity and freshness. This wine is made in both dry and sweet styles.


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