Regio Cantina: i migliori vini italiani, vigneti e storia della cantina

Storia

Entry into the Piccini estates project

Regio Cantina stands near Venosa in Basilicata, among the volcanic hills at the foot of Monte Vulture. It joined the Piccini family’s portfolio in 2010, becoming its estate devoted to Aglianico and the volcanic landscape of the Vulture. The acquisition formed part of the family’s expansion beyond Tuscany into distinctive Italian wine territories.

The estate retained the traditional practices associated with Lucanian growers while incorporating contemporary winemaking technology. Its production was organized around a deliberately close relationship between one principal grape, Aglianico, and one territory, the Vulture.

Organic development

From the 2018 vintage, the Piccini estates project adopted an organic regime intended to reinforce the connection between its wines and their places of origin. At Regio Cantina, this direction combined organic vineyard management, traditional methods and close attention to individual plants with modern cellar techniques.

The 2022 growing season

During the dry 2022 season, Regio Cantina maintained yields in line with 2021 and the preceding vintages. Water stress was not especially severe, and the vines produced healthy, juicy grapes. Microbiology-based phytosanitary preparations were used to limit fungal diseases and prevent the spread of botrytis.

Hail at the end of August damaged two vineyards, but the effects remained localized. Harvest was scheduled to start on 14 October, approximately ten days earlier than usual. Regio Cantina traditionally concludes the Piccini estates’ Italian harvest, which normally reaches the Vulture around the transition from October to November.

Current direction

Regio Cantina is now part of Generazione Vigneti, the project that brings together the Piccini family’s estates around the principle of one grape variety interpreted through one territory. The project is led by fifth-generation family members Ginevra, Benedetta and Michelangelo Piccini, supported by the oenologists Alessandro Barabesi and Pasquale Presutto. Giovanni Montrone is identified as winemaker in a 2024 technical publication.

2010Regio Cantina joined the Piccini family’s estate portfolio as its Basilicata property devoted to the volcanic territory of the Vulture and to Aglianico.

2018 vintageThe Piccini estates project began following an organic regime intended to strengthen the connection between its wines and their territories of origin.

End of August 2022Hail affected two Regio Cantina vineyards, while the rest of the estate maintained healthy fruit and yields consistent with recent vintages.

14 October 2022Harvest was scheduled to begin about ten days earlier than usual; Regio Cantina traditionally closed the annual harvest across the Piccini estates.

2024A technical publication identified Giovanni Montrone as winemaker and documented the estate’s October–November harvest window, grape selection and temperature-controlled fermentation for Donpà.

PresentRegio Cantina forms part of Generazione Vigneti, led by fifth-generation family members Ginevra, Benedetta and Michelangelo Piccini with oenological support from Alessandro Barabesi and Pasquale Presutto.

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Terroir

Regio Cantina lies at the foot of Monte Vulture, near the edge of the historic town of Venosa in the Province of Potenza. Its 15 ha of vineyards occupy volcanic hills and the slopes of an ancient extinct volcano in the heart of Basilicata.

Monte Vulture rises above a plateau and the valleys below it. The vineyards’ position, together with the volcanic character of the landscape, defines the estate’s growing environment. The soil and subsoil have a lava-derived nature, while documented vineyard soils combine volcanic deposits with clay. These elements underpin the estate’s focus on structured Aglianico from the Vulture.

The growing area is treated as a distinct Mediterranean volcanic environment. Aglianico is the central variety, selected to interpret the combination of volcanic terrain, clay and the estate’s position around the ancient Vulture massif.

Vinificazione

Organic vineyard managementThe vineyards are managed organically, with close attention to the health and strength of each plant.

Microbiological vine protectionMicrobiology-based phytosanitary preparations are used to help prevent botrytis and other fungal diseases.

Late Aglianico harvestHarvest normally takes place between October and November and traditionally concludes the Piccini estates’ Italian harvest.

Selected fruitAglianico bunches are carefully selected during harvest for documented estate production.

Temperature-controlled fermentationA documented vinification ferments for 15 days in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks.

Barrique and bottle maturationThe estate catalogue documents barrique maturation followed by bottle ageing, with periods varying by cuvée.

Regio Cantina combines organic management with traditional Lucanian vineyard practices and a broader commitment to sustainable viticulture. The estate’s plants receive individual attention intended to maintain healthy, robust growth. The Piccini estates project has observed an organic regime since the 2018 vintage.

Disease control includes phytosanitary treatments based on microbiological preparations. These are used to inhibit botrytis and limit the development of fungal diseases within the organic program.

The late-ripening cycle places harvest around the transition between October and November. Fruit selection is carried out at harvest for documented estate production. Regio Cantina commonly concludes the harvest calendar across the Piccini estates.

In 2022, the vines experienced limited water stress despite the dry season and produced healthy, juicy grapes. Yields remained in line with 2021 and other recent vintages. Hail at the end of August caused localized damage in two vineyards. Harvest was brought forward by about ten days and scheduled for 14 October.

Regio Cantina combines the traditional practices of Lucanian growers with modern winemaking technology. The estate’s overall production was reported at approximately 70,000 bottles per year in 2021.

A documented estate vinification involves careful selection of Aglianico bunches during the October–November harvest, followed by a 15-day fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks. Barriques and subsequent bottle maturation form part of the estate’s élevage repertoire. The length of maturation varies across the range: the current estate catalogue records six months in barriques plus three months in bottle for Genesi, 15 months in barriques plus four months in bottle for Donpà, and 24 months in French barriques plus 12 months in bottle for Campo Melograno.

This use of controlled stainless-steel fermentation and barrique maturation represents the estate’s contemporary cellar practice, while its broader approach remains anchored in the traditional cultivation and interpretation of Aglianico in the Vulture.

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Filosofia

Regio Cantina’s guiding idea is the relationship between one grape variety and one territory: Aglianico interpreted through the volcanic environment of the Vulture. The estate seeks to preserve the identity of its place through the traditional practices of Lucanian growers while remaining open to contemporary winemaking technology.

Its stated coordinates are passion, tenacity, respect for the land and care for its products. Organic and sustainable viticulture form the environmental dimension of this approach, while modern cellar methods are used to create contemporary expressions of the territory rather than detach the wines from their origin.

Within Generazione Vigneti, the broader objective is to emphasize territorial identity while allowing room for experimentation. Tradition therefore functions as a foundation, accompanied by a dynamic technical outlook and a concern for healthy vineyards.