Biography
The notary (“notaio”) for whom the estate is named was the father of Gerardo Giuratrabocchetti, the owner-director of a winery considered a symbol of the Basilicata region of southern Italy. And, to honor his father, he took the name of his wines from the acts and instruments of his father’s profession: l’Atto, il Sigillo, la Firma, il Repertorio. Gerardo Giuratrabocchetti is an agronomist who, since his childhood, has always lived in the countryside. One day, in the middle of the vineyards, his grandfather, whose name was also Gerardo, said to him: ”your name is the same as mine, and one day these vineyards shall be your”. And so it came to be. Thirty years later, in 1998, the Cantine del Notaio was born, the viticultural firm whose ambition, from the very start, was to regain fame and fortune for the Vulture area, famous for its wines since the days of Roman poet Horace, who was born precisely in this spot, in Venosa. With the collaboration of Luigi Moio, a professor at the University of Naples, he proceeded to carry out a careful study of soil and cultivation systems and of fermentation practices as well. His 75 acres of vineyards are all located in historic areas and in the finest sites, those with a layer of volcanic rock under which is found the tufaceous soil which, on the slopes of Mount Vulture, is called “the tufa which nourishes”: here can be found reserves of water which are fundamental for surviving lengthy periods of drought. The principal and finest grape variety is Aglianico, which has found on this mountain an ideal spot for its cultivation, favored by the high altitudes, the volcanic soil, the intense daytime heat and the cool evenings and nights.
The cellars are carved into old natural grottoes of volcanic tufa which date back to the 17th century and were once used by the French. A spectacular ambience, intriguing, suggestive, but very functional as well; in these grottoes the temperature and humidity remain constant the whole year round. The richness and expressive possibilities of Aglianico vary from wine to wine. Sigillo is a solid wine, firm and authoritative; Firma is always full-bodied but soft and with the natural elegance of the people of the region; Repertorio is a more immediate and approachable wine, fruity but always a fine example of pure Aglianico personality.