The consortium

In november 2001, at the request of the vine-growers and wine-producers of the Upper Valley of Agri River (Alta Valle dell’Agri), the Bosco Galdo – Experimental and demonstrative Farm of the ALSIA, together with the General Federation of landowners and the Comunità Montana Alto Agri and the towns of Grumento Nova, Moliterno and Viggiano, promoted the constitution of the Organizing Committee for recognition of the Denomination of Controlled Origin (DOC) for the vine and wine production in the District. The DOC  denomination of “Terre dell’Alta Val d’Agri”  (Lands of the upper Valley of Agri) was acknowledged and granted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in Rome, in September 2003, and  is certified in the basket of the Typical “Alto Agri” Products.

History

The earliest information we have of the cultivation of vine in the Alta Valle dell’Agri and of its subsequent transformation into wine goes back to the VI century B.C.

Beside the traditional local economy, based on the cows, goat and ovines rearing, on cereal growing, we find the cultivation – already fully developed – of the vine and olive groves. And in the Valle dell’Agri there is no lack of local documentation to testify to the production and consumption of wine in that period. Even the finding in the ancient Grumentum – a Roman colony of the III century B.C. – attest to the presence of kilns for the production of amphoras suitable for the exportation of the wine produced.

The wine-producing tradition in Roman times is confirmed by the mention, in ancient sources, of the “Lagarina vina” produced in the Grumentum Campagna (Strabo VI, 263; Pliny NH, XIV, 69 and noted for their sweetness, as well as for their therapeutical properties. Moreover, in Grumentum, between the I and II century, wine amphoras were being imported, as is evidenced by two specimens of italic production, exhibited in the National Museum of the Alta Val d’Agri, at Grumento Nova.

The terroir

The Basilicata Region is situated in southern Italy, within the adjoining regions of Puglia, Campania and Calabria. The territory extends for 724 sq km ad lies in the centre of the southern Appennine. it is characterized by splendid ranges of mountains and hills, the most conspicuous of which are the Mt  Volturino,  (1835 m) the Mountain of Viggiano (1800 m) where is possible to sky, the Mt. Sirino (2005 m) the Mt. Raparo (1761 m).between these mountain range a wide, verdant plain stretches out, traversed by the Agri River, the anciest Akiris of Strabo, who described it as a navigable river. And it is in this plain that the DOC Terre dell’Alta Val d’Agri vineyards grow.

The conformation of territory produces the characteristic thermic escursions that enrich the wines with their peculiarlyoriginal and esteemed aromas determining  their “terroir”.

Lucania

The stone dam of Pertusillo forms an artificial lake and the valley, which is rich in springs, is furrowed with numerous water-courses with more or less torrential regime, which  constitute the affluents of Agri River: Caolo, Alli, Casale, Sciaura, Maglia etc. Numerous ar also the naturalistic sites and the species of fauna and flora. The wooded areas consist prevalently of oak, beech, chestnut where grows many mushrooms, while the fauna still registers the presence on the territory of the wolf, the kite and the otter, as also – in the habitat of Pertusillo Dam – of colourful specimens of aquatics and migratory birds. The farming areas are represented by extensive fields of cereal cultivations and horticultural products, by apple and pear orchards, chestnut and olive groves and vineyards. The eminent agricultural and alimentary products of the territory are the famous  IGP beans, grown in Sarconi, the IGP  basketed pecorino cheese from Moliterno, seasoned in special storage vaults, the IGP capsicum of Senise and the DOC “Terre dell’Alta Val d’Agri” wines.

The disciplinary measures regulating production of the DOC and Wine typologies

1. Territory of the cultivation of the vine: the vineyards falling within the administrative limits of Grumento Nova, Moliterno and Viggiano, up to an altitude of 800 m. above sea level.
2. Wine typologies: Rosè, Red and Red Reserve, this last with at least six months’ ageing in male-oak butts.
3. Grapes: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and white Basilicata Malmsey for the rosè; Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and other species of red vine authorized by the province of Potenza for the  Red an the Red Reserve.

The board for the protection and the exploitation of the “Terre dell’Alta Val d’Agri” wines was constituted in 2003 aims at protecting, exploiting and promoting Trade-mark. The head office is at present at the ALSIA Azienda Sperimentale BOSCO GALDO – via Grumentina, 118 – Villa d’Agri (PZ).