Matera DOC

Viticulture in the Matera area dates back to around 1300 BC, practiced by the ancient Lucani people who inhabited this part of southern Italy. The region takes its name from the town of Matera, world-famous for its Sassi, the cave dwellings carved into the ravine that earned the city UNESCO World Heritage status. Despite this deep agricultural history, the DOC itself is young, receiving official recognition in July 2005 and becoming one of Basilicata's more recently established denominations.

• Evidence of winemaking in the area dates to approximately 1300 BC
• DOC status was officially granted in July 2005
• Named after the town of Matera, home to the ancient Sassi cave dwellings
• Matera was designated European Capital of Culture in 2019

The Matera DOC covers two distinct zones within the province of Matera: the elevated Collina Materana plateau and the lower-lying Ionian coast in the Metapontino plain. Vineyards reach up to 700 meters above sea level, sitting on chalky limestone soils infused with volcanic minerals. The Mediterranean climate brings warm, dry summers and cool winters, and both coastal breezes and plateau winds create strong diurnal temperature variation that supports grape quality and aromatic development.

• Vineyards climb to 700 meters above sea level on the Collina Materana
• Soils are chalky limestone with volcanic mineral content
• Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and cool winters
• Coastal and plateau winds drive significant day-to-night temperature swings

The appellation permits both indigenous southern Italian varieties and international grapes. Sangiovese anchors the Rosso at a minimum 60%, joined by Aglianico and Primitivo. The Moro di Matera takes a different direction, built primarily on Cabernet Sauvignon at 60%, with Primitivo at 20% and Merlot at 10%, producing a Bordeaux-inflected style unusual for Basilicata. White wines rely on Greco Bianco and Malvasia Bianca di Basilicata, the latter also forming the base for the Spumante produced via traditional bottle fermentation. In total, the DOC recognizes six wine types.

• Rosso: minimum 60% Sangiovese, 10% Aglianico, 10% Primitivo
• Moro (Rosso Jonico): 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Primitivo, 10% Merlot
• Spumante: primarily Malvasia Bianca di Basilicata, traditional bottle fermentation
• Six recognized wine types: Rosso, Primitivo, Moro, Greco, Bianco, and Spumante

A small but committed group of estates represents the Matera DOC. Fratelli Dragone and Tenuta Parco dei Monaci are among the most recognized names in the appellation, alongside Mantegna Vini and Fontanarosa Vini. Given the DOC's relatively recent establishment, the producer landscape is still developing, offering opportunities to discover wines before wider recognition drives prices upward.

• Fratelli Dragone is one of the appellation's key producers
• Tenuta Parco dei Monaci produces wines representing the DOC's range
• Mantegna Vini and Fontanarosa Vini round out the notable estates
• The young DOC status means the producer base continues to grow