A century of history, a volcanic land, and a name that has become synonymous with Aglianico del Vulture. Founded in 1925 in Barile, Basilicata, Paternoster is one of the most historic and renowned wineries in Southern Italy — a pioneer in bringing the wines of Vulture to tables around the world. Today represented by the fourth generation, with winemaker Fabio Mecca Paternoster, and owned by Tommasi Family Estates since 2016, the winery celebrates its hundredth anniversary: a milestone that blends family pride with forward-looking vision, through new projects that embrace the future while honoring continuity.
“This centenary is a milestone that feels deeply personal to me,” says Fabio Mecca Paternoster, “but it’s also a new beginning. Paternoster is the story of a land and a family that believed in 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 new ideas.”
“The Paternoster centenary perfectly embodies our Family’s philosophy and vision,” adds Giancarlo Tommasi, winemaker and technical director of Tommasi Family Estates. “Our goal is to enhance unique and authentic territories, providing expertise, research, and investment to build the future. The Vulture area 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 purpose — to keep sharing the story of Vulture with the world.”
Paternoster: a century of history in Vulture and the new Cantina del Barone Rotondo project
At the heart of this journey lies the Cantina del Barone Rotondo, a 17th-century snow cellar carved into volcanic rock and once entrusted to Baron Nicola Rotondo. Reborn as the Caveau of Aglianico, the Cantina del Barone Rotondo is now the symbolic heart of the Paternoster estate: a place of memory and magic, where time and matter tell the story of Vulture.
From this unique heritage comes Barone Rotondo, the Aglianico del Vulture Superiore DOCG that celebrates its roots while looking to the future. Produced from historic vineyards at six hundred meters above sea level and the result of meticulous, hand-crafted viticulture, it matures for years in wood, steel, and bottle before revealing itself with elegance and power. A rare wine — only 2,500 bottles — it captures in the glass the same dialogue between heritage and future that inspired the restoration of the Cantina del Barone Rotondo.
The year 2025 also marked the launch of a renovation project for the Paternoster estate, designed to enhance its hospitality and wine tourism experience. The goal is to create a hub open to both the local community and visitors, with a special focus on attracting tourism flows from Matera and Puglia — transforming the Vulture area into a must-visit destination within the wine tourism landscape of Southern Italy.
The renewal also extends to the digital sphere: with its new website, Paternoster embraces a contemporary narrative made of images, stories, and people — a balance between tradition and modernity.
The coming months will be filled with events dedicated to the region, partners, and the wine community, starting with an Open Day on November 8th: a tribute to the history of a winery that has been bringing the volcanic soul of Basilicata to the world for a hundred years.
Paternoster. For a hundred years, Vulture as a vision.
