Basilicata Wine Pairing Dinner

We are delighted to invite you to a special evening of fine dining and exceptional wines at Rafagino.

Basilicata is a small region, mostly mountainous, situated in Southern Italy up in the Apennines Mountains halfway between Bari and Naples and with two short coastlines on the Ionian and the Thyrrenian Sea. Basilicata is the third longest constantly inhabited place in the world dating back to the paleolithic era and it's famous for its Sassi (cave dwellings).

Basilicata's gastronomy is known for its rich agricultural traditions, its soups, sausages and meatballs. The food of Basilicata is varied and delicious and the locals are masters of making something out of nothing. Olives are grown from the Ionian Sea up to the Metaponto plain. Flavorful vegetables and legumes are also cultivated in Basilicata, including Sarconi beans and Senise peppers.

Garlic, olive oil and peperoncino form the base of most sauces, to which vegetables or meats may be added.

Soups are also popular in Basilicata where the famous Wedding soup was invented.

Fish caught off its two coasts are used in a number of recipes, or conserved in salt and oil. Anchovies, tuna, sardines and salt cod are all popular. Lamb meat, pork and game meat are used in many traditional recipes. Pork sausages are common in Baslicata, including Lucanica, Soppressata and Pezzenta, which combines pork, lamb and veal meat.

The most important wines of the region are the white Fiano and the red Aglianico from the slopes of Vulture an extinct volcano with very fertile soils.

We hope you'll be able to join us as we discover this little known region of Italy

Event Details:

Date: Sunday, July 26, 2026

Time: 5:30 p.m.

Cost: $130 with wine pairing; $85 without wine

Seating is limited, so we encourage you to reserve your spot early.

To make a reservation, please call us at (703) 455-3095 or email us at rafaginoitalian@gmail.com.

We look forward to you joining us for this special event!

Warm regards,

Rafagino