Collection: Grifalco

Aglianico del Vulture with Volcanic Depth and Precision

Region and Landscape

Grifalco is located on the slopes of the extinct volcano Monte Vulture in the Aglianico del Vulture DOC appellation. Here, in northern Basilicata, some of Southern Italy's most characterful red wines are cultivated on dark, mineral-rich, and volcanic soil at altitudes of up to 600 meters.

Basilicata is a small region in southern Italy—akin to the instep of the Italian boot—characterized by mountains, forests, and a more rugged and dramatic landscape than many associate with Southern Italy. The combination of altitude, cooler nights, and volcanic subsoil gives the wines from Vulture their special vitality, structure, and minerality.

History and Family

Grifalco was founded in 2004 by Cecilia and Fabrizio Piccin after more than 20 years as producers of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano in Tuscany. They wanted to work even more focused with a single grape and a single terroir—and the choice fell on aglianico, considered the most important blue grape variety in Southern Italy.

Today, it is their sons Lorenzo and Andrea who carry the project forward. Lorenzo is a trained oenologist responsible for the vineyard and cellar, while Andrea handles the more commercial side.

The Grape and Expression

Aglianico is often called “the Nebbiolo of the South”—not only because of its pronounced tannin and high acidity but also because it can combine power and elegance with significant aging potential. In Vulture, it also acquires a dark, almost graphite-like minerality that is entirely unique. The combination of the altitude and the volcanic subsoil gives wines with both structure and vitality—and with a depth that places the area among the most serious in Southern Italy.

The name Grifalco unites the family's roots and their new home: the griffin from Montepulciano and the falcon from Monte Vulture. It is a symbol of both continuity and renewal.

Vineyards and Soil

The estate encompasses 16 hectares of organically cultivated vineyards spread across the municipalities of Maschito, Forenza, Ginestra, and Venosa, where the cellar is also located. The vineyards lie between 450 and 580 meters above sea level, featuring vines from 10 to up to 80 years old.

The soil is predominantly volcanic but varies significantly from parcel to parcel. In Damaschito, the soil is sandy with distinct veins of iron and manganese, giving a characteristic reddish color and contributing to the wine's structure and depth. In Daginestra, the subsoil is characterized by volcanic ash mixed with chalk and clay, which provides a grayish soil and a cooler, tight minerality in the wines.

Vinification and Production

The vineyard work is organically certified, and each parcel is harvested and vinified separately to preserve its distinctiveness.

In the cellar, a combination of Slavonian, French, and American oak, along with stainless steel tanks, is used—always focusing on preserving the grape's structure and the area's expression while taming the natural tannins of aglianico without removing its character.

Approximately 70,000 bottles are produced annually—solely based on aglianico.

Style and Character

Grifalco's wines are dark and concentrated with ripe tannins, clear acidity, and a distinct volcanic minerality. The tannins are firm but balanced, and the fruit leans towards the darker spectrum with cherry, plum, and spices, often accompanied by a light smoky and ash tone from the volcanic soil.

These are wines with an impressive aging potential—and with a clear imprint of their volcanic origin.

Grifalco at Copenhagen Wine

For us, Grifalco is a strong example of how precise and terroir-driven Aglianico del Vulture can be. These are wines with structure, minerality, and aging potential—and with a clear and honest expression of Monte Vulture's volcanic soil.