Paternoster

Paternoster was established in 1925 by Anselmo Paternoster in the town of Barile, making it one of the oldest continuously operating estates in southern Italy. The winery holds a pivotal place in regional history as the first bottler of Aglianico del Vulture, giving the variety its commercial identity long before the appellation was formally codified. Giuseppe 'Pino' Paternoster, a subsequent generation's leader, became the territory's first professional oenologist and was instrumental in creating the Aglianico del Vulture DOC during the 1970s. In 2016, the Tommasi Family Estates acquired a majority stake, bringing investment and wider distribution while the fourth generation, led by Fabio Mecca, continues to direct the estate's winemaking direction.

• Founded 1925 by Anselmo Paternoster in Barile, Basilicata
• First estate to bottle and commercialize Aglianico del Vulture
• Pino Paternoster was central to DOC creation in the 1970s
• Tommasi Family Estates acquired majority stake in 2016

Paternoster's 20 hectares of vineyards are planted on the slopes of Mount Vulture, an extinct volcano that gives the zone its distinctive character. The soils are black volcanic in origin, composed of volcanic tuff, delivering the mineral tension and deep structure that define the estate's wines. Vineyards are positioned between 450 and 643 meters above sea level, an elevation that creates marked diurnal temperature swings. The inland location between the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian Seas means cool night breezes descend from Mount Vulture, preserving acidity and aromatic complexity in the fruit. All vineyards are farmed organically.

• 20 hectares on volcanic tuff and black volcanic soils of Mount Vulture
• Elevation ranges from 450 to 643 meters above sea level
• Cool night breezes from the mountain preserve freshness and acidity
• Certified organic viticulture across all estate vineyards

Paternoster produces wines primarily under three designations: Aglianico del Vulture Superiore DOCG, Aglianico del Vulture DOC, and Basilicata IGT. The estate's flagship wine, Don Anselmo, is a single-vineyard cru named for the founder and represents the pinnacle of the house style. Wines are aged in both traditional Slavonian oak casks and French oak, delivering structure and complexity that rewards extended cellaring. The house philosophy centers on authenticity and restraint, drawing out the volcanic mineral character intrinsic to the terroir. In addition to Aglianico, the estate grows Falanghina, Moscato, and Fiano for white and sweet wine production.

• Don Anselmo is the flagship single-vineyard cru Aglianico del Vulture
• Wines aged in Slavonian and French oak for structure and depth
• Portfolio spans DOCG, DOC, and IGT designations
• White varieties include Falanghina, Fiano, and Moscato

The area around Mount Vulture is widely recognized as producing the most structured and age-worthy red wines in southern Italy, earning the informal designation 'Barolo of the South.' Aglianico, the dominant grape variety of the zone, is a late-ripening variety that benefits from the long, warm growing season and cool nights that Vulture's elevation provides. Paternoster occupies the top of this hierarchy as the zone's founding estate, setting standards that subsequent producers have measured themselves against for nearly a century.

• Mount Vulture zone is called the 'Barolo of the South'
• Aglianico is a late-ripening variety requiring long hang time
• Elevation and volcanic soils are defining quality factors for the appellation
• Paternoster remains the reference point for regional benchmarking