Tre Bicchieri 2026, the best wines of Basilicata awarded by Gambero Rosso

Sep 21 2025, 16:15 | by Gambero Rosso

Once again this year, Aglianico del Vulture is the protagonist among the wines that have obtained the highest recognition; three are well-known names, but there is also an emerging winery

There is a great red wine in our South that truly deserves broader recognition. We are speaking of Aglianico del Vulture, in Basilicata, the “different twin” of Irpinian Aglianico. On the slopes of the volcano this grape has found its perfect habitat and expresses itself with red wines of elegance and depth, whether in the higher and cooler sites or on the gentle hills descending towards Venosa. This year we are awarding four, and all of them deserve greater renown. Three are already familiar names to the passionate readers of the Gambero Rosso Italian Wines Guide, while one, Tenute Lagala, shows us that the area continues to bring forth emerging wineries, even if at times the classic names lack continuity.

The Basilicata of wine: not only Vulture

As for the rest of the region, which is not only Vulture, we must acknowledge growing commitment across all the appellations, starting with that of Matera – a discourse that also applies to Grottino di Roccanova and Terre dell’Alta Val d’Agri, which still have partly unexpressed potential. A land of great reds, as we said, but on closer inspection there are also whites of remarkable finesse, whether modern blends or expressions of the historic Lucanian grape, the Malvasia Bianca of Basilicata.

What we encourage you to do is not to stop at the award-winning wineries if you truly want to get to know this fascinating territory: there is an excellent selection of labels, particularly those of the finalist wines (and they are many), which will give you a sense of a land that deserves to be explored more deeply, where you will find captivating natural landscapes, millennia-old art and culture (Matera and Venosa, the Swabian castles, Horace – do these ring a bell?), a gastronomy among the most authentic and enjoyable in the entire Peninsula and, last but not least, friendly and welcoming people who will be delighted to guide you through this beautiful region.