Radici del Sud (Basilicata)

Radici del Sud (Basilicata) is one of the wine festivals that anchors the Basilicata calendar, drawing both local visitors and international wine travellers each year. It is held at Castello Normanno-Svevo in Sannicandro di Bari, in the heart of one of Italy's most distinctive wine areas. The festival has been running since 2005 and reaches its 22th edition in 2026, giving it one of the longer track records among Italian wine events of its kind. Basilicata's contribution to the southern Italian wine and olive oil show in Bari each June. Producers from Aglianico del Vulture, Matera DOC and the smaller Basilicata appellations pour current vintages alongside the wider southern Italian wine community, in a format designed to give both trade and public visitors a structured introduction to native varieties of Italy's south. Italian wine trade fairs are the most efficient way to taste a broad cross-section of producers in a short time. Attendees can expect organised tasting halls grouped by appellation, masterclass programmes with guest speakers, sommelier-led sessions on individual grape varieties, and structured opportunities to meet producers. Most major events are reserved for trade visitors — buyers, importers, sommeliers, journalists, restaurateurs — but include public-facing days or evenings during the run of the event. The events have grown into key fixtures of the international wine industry calendar, with several Italian fairs now drawing buyers from over 60 countries. The event is organised by Radici del Sud / Propago, which sets the tone and direction of the programme each year. Basilicata's most important wine is Aglianico del Vulture DOCG, a structured red grown on volcanic soils around the extinct Mount Vulture in the north of the region. The wines are among southern Italy's most age-worthy reds, often compared to Taurasi (also Aglianico-based) for their structure and longevity. The Matera DOC and other smaller appellations support a small but quality-focused wine scene. The 2026 edition is scheduled for 3-8 June 2026. Cost details: Paid (entry fee for public day). Full programme, ticketing and updated information are published on the official site at https://www.radicidelsud.it/. Visitors are advised to check directly with the organiser for the latest schedule, as Italian festival programmes are sometimes updated close to the event date. Basilicata is reached via Bari (in neighbouring Puglia), Naples or Potenza, with Matera — the UNESCO-listed cave-dwelling city — as the most popular tourism base. The Vulture wine area sits in the north of the region, around 90 minutes from both Bari and Naples. Lucanian cuisine pairs the wines with peperoni cruschi (dried Senise peppers), salsiccia lucana, lagane e ceci, podolica beef, and pecorino di Filiano cheese.