Basilicata is located in the very south of Italy, surrounded by Puglia, Campania and Calabria. Quite mountainous and not very densely populated, the Lucano area is very hilly and features clay soil, known for leading to quality wines. Though not a popular tourist destination, it is rich in history, having been colonized by the Greeks in the 7th century BC. It is also home to relics from the Paleolithic and Neolithic eras. Matera, its most important town and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, seems as if it was sculpted into rock. The region’s top wine – Aglianico del Vulture – is made from the indigenous grape Aglianico, which was likely brought over here by the Ancient Greeks. Wine production is small – there are only 4,000 hectares under vine for 178,000 hectoliters of wine. There is one DOCG and four DOCs.
Map of the region
