Aglianico: the long-keeping red from the South, between Taurasi and Vulture
From Basilicata rosé to Taurasi, starting from €11.90Aglianico is the grape variety that contradicts the idea we have of southern reds. It ripens slowly, is harvested late, and arrives at the winery with a lively acidity and tight tannins. It is a southern table wine built like a northern aged wine.
Two terroirs support it, both volcanic: Taurasi and Irpinia in Campania, and Aglianico del Vulture in Basilicata, on the slopes of an extinct volcano. Our eight references cover both, from rosé at €11.90 to the old vines of Cantine Lonardo. The table below explains what each area brings to the glass.
Vigneti del Vulture - Pipoli Rosato del Basilicate 2025
A rosé made from Aglianico, elegant, fruity and delicious
Botter - Lupo Meraviglia Tre Di Tre 2021
A rich and tasty wine, made using an ancestral method from the Puglia region
Vigneti del Vulture - Pipoli Aglianico del Vulture 2021
A 100% Aglianico wine: an ancient grape variety from the Basilicata region
Paternoster - Aglianico del Vulture Don Anselmo 2016
Vesevo - Taurasi 2016
A powerful and elegant Taurasi, from the volcanic soils of Campania, which expresses all the depth of the Aglianico
Cantine Lonardo - Alto Taurasi Vineyard 2016
A high-altitude Taurasi, deep and structured, which accurately expresses the volcanic freshness of Irpinia.
Cantine Lonardo - Coste Taurasi 2016
A high-altitude Taurasi, deep and structured, which precisely expresses the nobility of the Aglianico and the volcanic soils of the Irpinia.
Cantine Lonardo - Irpinia Aglianico 2019
A deep and structured Aglianico from Irpinia, where the freshness of the volcanic terroir meets a dense and flavorful substance.
Taurasi, Irpinia, Vulture: how each area changes in the glass
One variety, two administrative regions, and three denominations. The dividing line passes between Campania, higher and cooler, and Basilicata, whose vineyards climb the slopes of Mount Vulture.
| Denomination | Where and on what ground | The style | In our cellar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taurasi Campaign | Province of Avellino, volcanic hillsides of the mountainous Irpinian hinterland. | The most structured and slowest to open. Black cherry, smoky, a tannin that demands time or a decanter. | Vesevo 2016, Cantine Lonardo Coste and Vigne d'Alto 2016 |
| Irpinia Aglianico Campaign | The same hinterland, around the village of Taurasi, without the aging requirement of the DOCG. | The Taurasi style but more direct, fruit-forward, to be opened sooner. | Cantine Lonardo Irpinia Aglianico 2019 |
| Aglianico del Vulture Basilicata | The slopes of an extinct volcano, Mount Vulture, with vineyards up to 800 meters. | Darker, riper fruit, rounder tannins, and a freshness held by the altitude. | Pipoli 2021, Paternoster Don Anselmo 2016 |
| Basilicata Rosé Basilicata | The same high-altitude vines, harvested about fifteen days before the red. | Cherry, raspberry, pomegranate, a fresh palate. The lightest entry point. | Vigneti del Vulture Pipoli Rosato 2025 |
Taurasi can only be released for sale after three years of aging, including one year in wood. This is what separates it, on paper, from Irpinia Aglianico produced on the same hillsides.
Agreements that hold true, from rosé to Taurasi
Aglianico has two advantages in cooking: a tannin that cuts through fat and an acidity that revitalizes the dish. However, it requires dishes with strong flavors, except in its rosé form.
| The dish | Why it works | The bottle to open |
|---|---|---|
| Braised beef, daube, long ragù | The tight tannins of Taurasi soften with long cooking and a rich sauce. | Vesevo Taurasi 2016 |
| Game, wild boar, winter dishes | You need a dish that can stand up to an old vine wine with a long aging potential. | Cantine Lonardo Coste Taurasi 2016 |
| Grilled vegetables, eggplant, vegetarian dishes | The Vulture offers supple tannins and dark fruit, which do not overpower the herbal notes. | Pipoli Aglianico del Vulture 2021 |
| Hard pressed cheeses | The fat in the cheese rounds out the acidity and softens the tannins. | Paternoster Don Anselmo 2016 |
| Oily fish, shellfish, spicy dishes | Served chilled, rosé goes places red wine shouldn't. | Vigneti del Vulture Pipoli Rosato 2025 |
| Appetizer, cold cuts, soft cheeses | Fruity enough to drink on its own, fresh enough to stand up to salt curing. | Vigneti del Vulture Pipoli Rosato 2025 |
Serve reds at around 17 °C and rosé between 8 and 10 °C. A Taurasi taken from a cellar at 13 °C benefits from an hour in the room before being opened.
A bottle for every intention
The tables give the theory. Here are the bottles, and only those that can be shipped today.
Addressing the grape variety in rosé
Vulture vines at 800 meters, harvested early and pressed as rosé. Cherry, raspberry, pomegranate, six months on fine lees.
Vigneti del Vulture Pipoli Rosato 2025 · €11.90A first red from Vulture
Volcanic soils, ten months of aging, part of which is in used barrels. The cheapest way to understand the grape variety.
Pipoli Aglianico del Vulture 2021 · €15.90Entering the Taurasi
Thirty-year-old vines in the province of Avellino, sixteen months in French barriques. The South at its most serious.
Vesevo Taurasi 2016 · €42The Summit of Basilicata
Paternoster's historic cuvée, from the oldest plots in Vulture and aged in barrels.
Paternoster Don Anselmo 2016 · €56A hamlet in Taurasi
The Coste plot, old vines, long maceration and long aging in oak barrels. Available in sets of two.
Cantine Lonardo Coste Taurasi 2016 · €150 for 2The heights of Irpinia
Vigne d'Alto overlooks the valley from the hills of the commune, on volcanic ash and clay-limestone soils.
Cantine Lonardo Vigne d'Alto Taurasi 2016 · €150 for 2The domain by the box
The third vintage from Cantine Lonardo, the most affordable of the three, in a case of six bottles.
Cantine Lonardo Irpinia Aglianico 2019 · €153.60 per 6 bottlesCompare with the North
Same tannin and acidity profile, a thousand kilometers further north. Piedmontese Nebbiolo is Italy's other great red for cellaring.
Our nebbiolo
The Southern sun doesn't just produce flabby wines
A Southern red is expected to be round, jammy, a little heavy, and to be drunk within three years. Aglianico goes against this trend entirely. It is among the last grape varieties harvested in Italy, it retains an acidity that many Northern varieties would envy, and its tannins are quite harsh in the first few years.
This explains the vintages in this section. Our Taurasi are from 2016 and are only just starting to soften. The Vulture requires less patience: its altitude and volcanic soil give it more fruit immediately, without sacrificing its freshness. In both cases, an hour in a decanter never hurts.
How do you choose
On the balance between tannin and fruit. An Aglianico that only offers power will be tiring by the second glass, regardless of its price.
And on the readability of the terroir: one should be able to feel the difference between a Vulture and a Taurasi without reading the label.
The Wine Wanderer Team
What is requested of us regarding Aglianico
What is Aglianico?
A red grape variety from southern Italy, grown mainly in Campania and Basilicata. It is said to have been brought by the Greeks in antiquity. It produces colorful, tannic, and acidic wines, capable of aging for a long time, which is rare in this climate.
What's the difference between a Taurasi and an Aglianico del Vulture?
The grape variety is the same, but the region changes. Taurasi comes from the province of Avellino in Campania, from the high hillsides of Irpinia, and must age three years before being sold. Aglianico del Vulture comes from Basilicata, from the slopes of an extinct volcano. The former is generally more austere and takes longer to open up, while the latter is riper and rounder.
Why is it called the Barolo of the South?
The nickname has been attached to Taurasi for a long time. It stems from the structural resemblance to Nebbiolo: lots of tannin, lots of acidity, a wine that is closed when young and opens up after years. The grape varieties are not related; the comparison is about the wine's behavior, not its aroma. Our Nebbiolos allow you to make the connection yourself.
How long can I keep a bottle of Aglianico?
Ten years without difficulty on a fine Taurasi or Vulture, often longer. For entry-level cuvées, allow three to five years; they are made for fruit. Our 2016 Taurasi wines are already in a good window, without being rushed.
Should you decant an Aglianico?
Yes, for young wines and long-aged cuvées: one hour in a decanter is enough to soften the tannins and open up the nose. For a bottle over fifteen years old, prefer careful serving and a large glass; decanting could diminish it.
What to serve with Aglianico?
Dishes with substance: braised meats, game, slow-cooked ragouts, grilled aubergines, aged cheeses. Tannins need fat to soften. Serve at around 17°C. The pairing chart above provides details for each cuvée.
Is Aglianico made as a rosé?
Yes, and it's a real tradition in Basilicata. The grapes are harvested earlier than for red wine, then gently pressed and aged on fine lees. Our Pipoli Rosato 2025 offers a fruity version at €11.90, to be served chilled.