Italian Sommelier Foundation, Basilicata: a journey built up over time

Course participants during a lesson and a tasting organised by the Italian Sommelier Foundation, Basilicata branch

Published on:

26 October 2026

There are journeys that can be recognised by the era they span. That of the Basilicata Italian Sommelier Foundation It can be seen in the classrooms, in the glasses lined up during a tasting, and in the people who, meeting after meeting, have chosen to approach wine with curiosity and a systematic approach.

Official sources from the Foundation record that the first editions of the wine and olive oil sommelier courses in Potenza took place as early as 2021. This is a verifiable starting point, from which steady growth can be seen: in 2026, the fifth edition of the professional wine sommelier course was launched, comprising a programme of 34 theoretical and practical sessions. In the same year, certificates were awarded for the third and fourth editions. As for olive oil, the calendar announces the third edition of the course, starting in 2026.

Learning, one glass at a time

The president is leading the regional project Nicola Gentile, which over the years has ensured the continuity of these activities and created opportunities for students, lecturers and producers to come together. The course covers everything from tasting techniques to sensory analysis, from wine service to food and wine pairings. It is not just about theory: it is a method for observing, describing and understanding what is in your glass.

Nicola Gentile at an event organised by the Basilicata branch of the Italian Sommelier Foundation — Nicola Gentile, President of FIS Basilicata.

Alongside wine, the Foundation has developed programmes in Basilicata dedicated to extra virgin olive oil, featuring lessons, guided tastings and in-depth sessions on cultivars, quality and culinary uses. Evenings dedicated to “extreme” oils, the Bibenda awards and food pairings reflect an educational initiative that broadens the perspective on the region’s produce and landscapes. The FIS national catalogue also features a course on cheese and how to pair it correctly with wine.

The great wine labels, explored through the vintages

Tastings are another distinctive feature of this journey. The research also focuses on vertical tastings and vintages, to compare how a wine evolves over time. In November 2025, in Pignola, an evening dedicated to Solaia brought together six vintages: 2020, 2018, 2016, 2015, 2013 and 2006. The calendar also features a Sassicaia vertical tasting in January 2025 and an evening dedicated to Dom Pérignon in December 2023. The Sassicaia vertical tasting compared six vintages, from 2018 right up to the historic 1988; the Dom Pérignon tasting covered the vintages 2000, 1998, 1996, 1995, 1990 and 1985. These are rare occasions, made possible by careful selection and the preparatory work that goes into every tasting.

Bottles of Sassicaia for tasting — The Sassicaia vertical tasting is one of the tastings on the programme.

Bottles of Dom Pérignon for tasting — An evening dedicated to Dom Pérignon.

In the classroom and during the tastings, lecturers from the Foundation take turns with representatives from the companies. Among those who have led these activities are Gian Luca Pasqualini, Paolo Scarnecchia, Mimma Coppola e Raffaele Fischetti; the evenings are also attended by winemakers, producers, oenologists and representatives from wineries, who bring the stories of the regions directly to the course participants. The course programme also features lecturers such as Paolo Lauciani.

Lecturer Gian Luca Pasqualini with Nicola Gentile during a tasting session — Gian Luca Pasqualini and Nicola Gentile during an in-depth discussion evening.

Lecturer Paolo Scarnecchia during a FIS Basilicata lecture — Paolo Scarnecchia during a meeting organised by the Foundation.

A reason to start

Behind every edition are people who choose to devote their time to learning and sharing. Some want to make a career out of wine, others wish to make more informed choices at the table, and still others are seeking a more mindful way to engage with the places and stories that a bottle holds.

The legacy built up in Basilicata by Nicola Gentile and the Foundation offers precisely this: a journey of learning, meeting producers and turning curiosity into expertise. One bottle after another, one vintage after another.