🍇 Aglianico
A red grape of southern Italy, the basis of Taurasi and Aglianico del Vulture; 7,554 ha in Italy (2000).
Aglianico is a red wine grape from Italy. The VIVC catalogue lists it as a wine grape only and records 73 synonyms, among them Aglianico di Taurasi, Aglianico del Vulture and Ellenico. The catalogue gives no full pedigree.
Its area in Italy has declined: VIVC records 12,006 ha in 1990 and 7,554 ha in 2000. Its main wines come from Campania and Basilicata.
In Campania this means Taurasi. Its vineyards lie at 400–700 m, and the wine has to age for at least three years, including at least one year in wooden casks. For Riserva the rule is stricter: four years, 18 months of them in wood.
In Basilicata Aglianico grows on the slopes of the extinct volcano Vulture, on tuff soils. The file for Aglianico del Vulture Superiore caps the yield at 52 hl of wine per hectare. Interestingly, it lists "Aglianico del Vulture" next to "Aglianico" as a separate name, although VIVC treats it merely as a synonym of the same grape.
Why it matters to you. "Aglianico del Vulture" on a bottle means the appellation from Basilicata, and "Taurasi" the one from Campania; either way the bottle holds Aglianico. Taurasi's long compulsory ageing explains why these wines reach the market only several years after the harvest. Reds are served at 15–18 °C.
Facts
| Country | Italy |
|---|---|
| Region | Campania (Taurasi), Basilicata (Vulture) |
| Main use | wine grape |
How it connects to Wine
🍇 Aglianico → kind of → 🍇 Grape varieties → kind of → 🍷 Wine
Links
- Traditions
- 🧑🤝🧑 Italians
- Part of
- 🍇 Grape varieties
- Origin
- 🗺️ Italian wine
- Where it grows
- 📍 Campania, 📍 Basilicata, 📍 Irpinia, 📍 Sannio, 📍 Vulture, 📍 Molise
- Main grape in
- Italy: 📜 Aglianico del Vulture, 📜 Castel del Monte, 📜 Aglianico del Vulture Superiore, 📍 Campania, 📍 Irpinia, 📜 Taurasi, 📜 Falerno del Massico, 📍 Sannio, 📜 Cilento, 📜 Galluccio
- Related to
- 🍷 San Greg, 🍷 Dal Re, 🍷 Selve di Luoti, 🍷 Feudi di San Gregorio Taurasi, 🍷 Piano di Montevergine, 🍷 Feudi di San Gregorio Lacryma Christi Rosso, 🍷 Serpico, 🍷 DUBL Rosé, 🍷 DUBL Esse Rosato, 🍷 FeudiStudi Vallicelli
- Similar and different
- 🍇 Aglianico del Vulture
Frequently asked questions
Where does Aglianico come from?
From Italy; the main wines are Taurasi (Campania) and Aglianico del Vulture (Basilicata).
How long is Taurasi aged?
At least 3 years, one of them in wooden casks; Riserva 4 years, 18 months of them in wood.
Is it true that Aglianico del Vulture is a separate grape?
According to VIVC, no: it is a synonym of Aglianico, though the appellation file names both.
What soils does Aglianico grow on at Vulture?
On tuff, on the slopes of an extinct volcano.
How much Aglianico is there in Italy?
7,554 ha in 2000 (VIVC); in 1990 there were 12,006 ha.
What to read next
- 🗺️ Italian wine — The country's wine and winemaking: regions, grape varieties, appellations.
- 📍 Irpinia — Mountainous Avellino, home of Taurasi, Fiano and Greco.
- 🍷 Feudi di San Gregorio Lacryma Christi Rosso — Feudi di San Gregorio Lacryma Christi Rosso: red wine by Feudi di San Gregorio from Sorbo Serpico in Irpinia; Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio DOC Rosso.
- 🧑🤝🧑 Italians — The people of Italy; their cuisine rests on wine, olive oil and cheese, and in 2025 the country made 44.4 million hectolitres of wine, the most in the world.
- 🍇 Aglianico del Vulture — A form of Aglianico from Mount Vulture in Basilicata.
Similar
🍇 Falanghina · 🍇 Uva di Troia · 🍇 Montepulciano · 🍇 Ribolla Gialla · 🍇 Dolcetto · 🍇 Sauvignon Vert
Sources
- eAmbrosia — technical file: PDO «Taurasi» (Ares(2014)1977769)
- eAmbrosia — technical file: PDO «Aglianico del Vulture Superiore» (Ares(2014)1904404)
- VIVC (Vitis International Variety Catalogue): passport Aglianico
- VIVC: area statistics AGLIANICO
- Simons C.T. Left out in the cold: Serving wines chilled. Temperature, 2019