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In the family Giuratrabocchetti the passion for viticulture has been transmitted generation after generation. In 1998 the firm Cantine del Notaio was established in order to add value to the Aglianico del Vulture, a vine variety which is known from the times of antique Greece, which was sung by the Latin poet Horace and cultivated on the slopes of an ancient inactive volcano, the Vùlture, in a territory rich in history, art, vegetation and landscape, in Basilicata, small and uncontaminated region of Southern Italy. An area in which all soils, in spite of their different natures (sandy, of pozzolan, medium mixture and clayish), present deep layers of volcanic tuff, which are used as water reserves in the periods of aridity, and because of this they are called by the farmers “il tufo che allatta”.

The wine cellars were obtained by the ancient natural tuff caves in the centre of the village of Rionero. They date back to the XVII century and were used in the past by Franciscan friars. A spectacular and fascinating environment, which is also functional, since tuff keeps stable the values of temperature and humidity all the yearlong.

In the district of the firms there are seven vineyards: Vigna Casano, Cerentino, Le Querce, Piano del Duca, Piano dell’Altare, Serra del Granato and Vigna Cugno di Atella.

The first one, Vigna Casano, is exposed to the West and the direction of the lines follows for the 80% the maximum declivity grade, while the remaining part is transverse. The most cultivated variety in this area is the ”Aglianico del Vulture”, which was first planted in 2003.

The small farm of Cerentino-Sterpara Grande is composed of a unique tract, which is divided into two parts by a path. One of them is employed in order to cultivate olive trees (Olea europaea L.), while the other part is a vineyard. It extends on a flat area with a clayish soil and subsoil made of sandy tuff. Also in this area the ”Aglianico del Vulture”is cultivated, but the first installation was made around 1972.

The vineyard Le Querce. With a north-south exposure, it is characterised by a substrate of white tuff and compact pozzolana. The sandy component and the presence of plants multiplied by offshoots allowed the installation of ungrafted scions.

Also, the third vineyard, Pian del Duca, presents, on a medium declivity grade of 20%, lines and most of them have north-south orientation. Here around the building it is possible to admire an arbour covered by a wisteria and by a big mulberry tree (Morus spp.).

The vineyard Piano dell’Altare has a declivity grade around 12% and lines with an east-west orientation. The stratigraphy of the soil is made of a deeper part composed of volcanic tuff and a more superficial and arable section of clayish and medium mixture soil.

In Serra del Granato the vineyards are arranged in order to have a north-south exposure and a portion of the territory is used as a garden.

Finally, the vineyard Cugno di Atella is characterised by its peculiar microclimate caused by the presence of air flows, which generate between two clefts. They allow the creation of a perfect climatic combination of low levels of humidity and mild temperatures all year long, which cause the quick drying of bunches.

The cultivation techniques take inspiration from biological and biodynamic criteria, which point to increase not only the accumulation of water reserves, but also the content of organic substance.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)