The Cantina Sociale di Venosa, the oldest cooperative in Vulture, has expressed a dynamic and modern spirit in recent years, developing projects and experiments that have brought it to the forefront of its territory. Annalucia Galeone tells us about it.
La Cantina Sociale di Venosa, in the heart of the Vulture Regional Natural Park., is dynamic and forward-looking, in the past 5 years it has recorded a 169% increase in turnover. The trend is in contrast to the International wine market in crisis with a drop in consumption and sales. Just luck? No, there are several reasons, first and foremost, the social winery has developed a strong sense of community and identity, belonging is both a source of pride and a lever for growth.
The Vulture has been an extinct volcano for 130,000 years now, over time it has shaped the surrounding landscape: it created Lake Piccolo and Lake Grande di Monticchio fed by groundwater, influenced the water cycle, creating mineral springs and made the soil particularly fertile. The subsoil is rich in volcanic ash, minerals and white tuff, the vegetation is lush: forests of oak, beech, elm, black alder, and fir extend as far as the eye can see and alternate with breathtaking views interrupted by fields planted with olive trees and vines.
Vulture “City” Italian Wine 2026
In 2026 it will be the Vulture The “City” Italian City of Wine (since it is a territory, quotation marks are a must). The important recognition of the National Association of Wine Cities comes at perhaps the most opportune time. Awarded the network of 14 communi led by Ripacandida, followed by Rionero in Vulture, Melfi, Barile, Venosa, Ginestra, Rapolla, Genzano di Lucania, Atella, Acerenza, Palazzo San Gervasio, Lavello, Forenza and Maschito. The common thread linking all the municipalities is the a sharing the thousand-year history of Aglianico del Vulture. One of the great reds of southern Italy.
At one time in Basilicata, the area planted with Aglianico grapes extended over 15,000 hectares; today there are 1,500 hectares, 800 of which (scattered among the municipalities of Venosa, Maschito, Lavello and Ripacandida) belong to the social winery of Venosa.
An ancient reality
The cooperative entity is the oldest and largest in Lucania, founded in 1957 by 27 members. There are currently about 300 of them. They are steadily increasing young people under 40 who choose to go back to their roots, work the land and give up their permanent jobs in the automotive industry. The company altogether produces 2 million bottles with a potential of 5 million.
“The Earth is not an inheritance received from our fathers, but a loan to be returned to our children – likes to quote President Francesco Perillo -. During the pandemic we did not stand still; on the contrary, we activated many initiatives to modernize and make work in the vineyard more efficient, increase work safety, improve logistics and develop hospitality. New hires of wine lover receptionists are also planned.”
Substantial investment to expand the winery
With an investment of 3.4 million euros, including 1.25 million euros financed with NRP funds. The winery will be expanded. The new area will join the old structure that arose in 1965 with the one built post-earthquake in 1980.
It was conceived on two levels, one of which is underground. It will have a 320-square-meter reception area, a point of sale, a large tasting room, kitchen, services and 4 charging stations for electric cars. The basement will have a 250-seat conference hall. With an open cooperage and on the roof a 500-square-meter event terrace made of environmentally sustainable recyclable materials and wooden beams.
All-around wine tourism
The winery aims to create an increasingly firm and authentic connection with Vulture. The idea of wine tourism which is intended to encourage integrates visits to wineries. With exploration of the surrounding area, the discovery of traditions and gastronomic excellence. Venosa is among other things one of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy. The town was the birthplace of the Roman poet Horace and the madrigalist Carlo Gesualdo.
Strolling through the alleys, one is immersed in an atmosphere suspended in time among Roman-era remains, medieval quarters, churches, elegant mansions and Angevin fountains. Stops not to be missed are the Angevin Castle and the Unfinished. A 12th-century abbey that was never completed. It will be called “The Way of the Fountains” the route that will lead to the discovery of the historical and naturalistic secrets of the ancient fountains from which potable spring water flows.
A crucial role plays technology in theoptimization of agricultural processes. The winery has invested in satellite mapping. In contrada Iatta 150 hectares are being monitored by the Sentinel 2 satellite, so it is possible to get a snapshot of the entire production cycle and predict water stress conditions or identify pathogenic disease risks.
lass=”yoast-text-mark” />>Experimentation continues under the sea: 120 bottles of Aglianico del Vulture Carato Venusio 2017 aged in the Portofino seabed for 6 months at a depth of 50 meters. The test started in 2022 with the 2013 vintage of the same wine with 52 bottles.
The ideas and projects in the pipeline are no longer numbered; certainly the Venosa winery is a winery in the territory that believes in the territory.
