Taking the state road n. 169 eastwards from Pietragalla (PZ), a stunning and evocative view opens on the outskirts of the village at the top of the hairpin turns of the “Poggio”. To the left of the residential centre, about 200 palmenti, small buildings used for the vinification of grapes, become visible on a slope of about two hectares looking as though they have been tucked into a corner. At first sight, they may give the impression of being rural residences from the ancient past, however this is not the case. Palmenti are a type of cave complex that originated in the early 19th century. An unusual type of rural architecture, produced by the winegrowers of Pietragalla, these are the only ones in Basilicata and perhaps Europe to be grouped in this way.
Grapes were pressed and must fermented here until the end of the 1960s. Several families still make their wine in the palmenti today, having taken good care to safeguard the structure and the vats carved out of the tuff rock over time. Inside a palmento are two or four tanks, while an opening over the entrance provides an exit route for carbon monoxide to disperse. After 15/20 days of fermentation, the wine – tapped and transferred to 35 litre casks – is deposited in artisanal wooden barrels that are stored in the evocative caves of the historical centre, mostly in north-facing via Mancosa.
Lucana Film Commission
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