“Our family has red wine in its DNA. This is why we invest in what we consider the finest Italian territories for this type of wine. In 2016, we chose the history, the enological excellence, and the territorial richness of Paternoster.”
With these words, Giancarlo Tommasi, oenologist and Technical Director of Tommasi Family Estates and a fourth-generation member of the family, opened the first of two masterclasses — a vertical tasting of Don Anselmo, the Aglianico del Vulture dedicated to the founder of Paternoster. Beside him was Fabio Mecca Paternoster, also of the fourth generation of the family that, in 1925, founded the historic winery in Barile, in the splendid land of Basilicata.
The two days celebrating the centenary (1925–2025) were rightly dedicated to the estate’s flagship wine: Aglianico del Vulture, the protagonist of tastings, discoveries, and convivial encounters. The celebrations were illuminated by a major announcement — the complete restoration of the Cantine del Barone, a network of ancient cellars carved deep into volcanic rock dating back to the 1400s, and the Neviera, a fascinating 17th-century structure once used to store snow for Baron Nicola Rotondo.
Reborn as the Caveau dell’Aglianico, this unique site has become the symbolic heart of the Paternoster estate — a place of memory and magic, where time and matter tell the story of the Vulture.
Don Anselmo Masterclass
Don Anselmo is an Aglianico del Vulture of great expressiveness, balance, and substance. Dedicated to the memory of the founder, grandfather Anselmo, it embodies both the estate’s roots and its continuity.
The historic vineyards in Barile include Aglianico vines over fifty years old, growing in volcanic soil rich in tuff and minerals. The wine ages for more than two years in large oak barrels and tonneaux.
The vertical tasting began with the 2006 vintage, a warm and generous year. The wine has aged gracefully, maintaining both elegance and fullness over time, with aromas still vibrant and alive — notably the vivid note of licorice root. The palate is intense, reflecting the care, craftsmanship, and patience devoted to it.
Next came 2016, a classic and harmonious vintage. A straight, expressive Aglianico with impressive length and aromatic and balsamic nuances. The structure and balance of this wine reveal both finesse and character.
The 2017 vintage, marked by heat and concentration, showed a tighter and more austere profile, yet remained a fine expression of the grape, with attentive tannins and a spicy edge.
Finally, the 2018 vintage, to be released at the end of the year, proved excellent — tense, vibrant, and noble, a perfect example of the strength and elegance that define Aglianico del Vulture.
Barone Rotondo Masterclass
The second masterclass was dedicated to Rotondo, also an Aglianico del Vulture, now renamed Barone Rotondo — a tribute to both tradition and the future of Aglianico, reflecting the family’s pride and its forward-looking vision.
The tasting opened in grand style with the 1998 vintage, the year of Rotondo’s first harvest and its symbolic consecration. After twenty-seven years, the wine retains remarkable freshness and purity. The nose is soft and welcoming, while the palate shows fine balance between acidity and tannins, with long-lasting vitality.
The 2004 vintage offered the same elegance, with defined fruit aromas enhanced by lively spice. On the palate, it remains clean and focused, with freshness and acidity beautifully aligned.
The 2012 vintage represents mature balance — stylistically consistent with 2004 but with slightly higher acidity, which ultimately enhances drinkability and structure. The length is both notable and pleasurable.
Finally, 2020 marks a new chapter — the rebirth of Barone Rotondo. The nose reveals vigor, charm, and a finely tuned fruit intensity. The palate is generous and harmonious, with great drinkability and satisfaction.
Barone Rotondo, Aglianico del Vulture Superiore DOCG, comes from historic vineyards located 600 meters above sea level. Produced through precise, manual viticulture, it will be limited to only 2,500 bottles.
A Centennial of Vision and Renewal
“This centenary is a deeply personal milestone,” commented Fabio Mecca Paternoster, “but it is also a new beginning. Paternoster is the story of a territory and of a family that believed in the Vulture when no one else did. Today we celebrate the past while looking ahead — with the same pioneering spirit of my great-grandfather Anselmo, but with new tools and ideas.”
For his part, Giancarlo Tommasi emphasized that “The Paternoster centenary perfectly represents our family’s philosophy and vision: to enhance unique and authentic territories by investing in expertise, research, and innovation to build the future. The Vulture has extraordinary potential, and Paternoster will continue to be its benchmark. The Cantina del Barone Rotondo project and the new hospitality center were created precisely for this — to share the story of the Vulture with the world.”
The year 2025 also marks the launch of an ambitious renewal project for the Paternoster estate, designed to expand its hospitality and wine tourism offerings. The goal is to create a welcoming hub for both locals and visitors — particularly travelers coming from Matera and Puglia — transforming the Vulture into a rising destination on the southern Italian wine map.
This renewal also embraces the digital realm: with its new website, Paternoster opens a contemporary chapter told through images, stories, and people — balancing tradition and modernity.
The coming months will feature numerous events celebrating the land, partners, and wine community, beginning with an Open Day on November 8, honoring a century of a winery that has carried the volcanic soul of Basilicata throughout the world.
The Tommasi Family Estates
Paternoster is part of the Tommasi Family Estates, joining a winemaking heritage that represents the history of Valpolicella and beyond. Today, the family owns eight estates across seven Italian regions:
Tommasi and De Buris in Veneto
Tenuta di Caseo in Lombardy
Casisano in Montalcino and Poggio al Tufo in Maremma, Tuscany
Masseria Surani in Puglia
Ammura on the slopes of Mount Etna in Sicily
Paternoster in Basilicata
To these are added a project in Orvieto, Umbria, and partnerships in Chianti Classico with La Massa and in Collio, Friuli Venezia Giulia, with Marco Felluga Russiz Superiore.
The family’s mission remains constant: to create great wines that express and elevate the identity of each territory.
Four Generations of Visionaries
Four generations of pioneers, explorers, and, above all, visionaries.
With their unique experience and knowledge, the Tommasi family continues to enhance each territory they touch, following a path of sustainability and hospitality.
Their dedication to welcoming guests finds expression in the family’s hospitality properties:
Villa Quaranta Wine Resort & Thermal SPA in Valpolicella, Albergo Mazzanti in Verona, and Agriturismo Poggio al Tufo in Pitigliano, in the Tuscan Maremma.
Andrea Radic
