Lucio Tasca d’Almerita died in Palermo this week, on 25 July, aged 82.
In Sicily he was identified merely as ‘Conte Lucio’, such was the popularity of the Depend and the quantity of respect and affection folks had for him. Lucio was one of many pioneers of winemaking on the island from a technical viewpoint, however furthermore he was capable of reveal how efficient the modernisation of Sicily could possibly be from a cultural standpoint.
Born in Palermo on 9 January 1940, he was an athlete in his youth and even competed on the 1960 Olympics in Rome on Italy’s equestrian workforce. He studied classics in Lausanne and graduated in Economics in Palermo in 1965.
Lucio Tasca competing on the 1960 Olympics in Rome. Credit score: Conte Tasca d’Almerita
His European relationships and international imaginative and prescient helped him to propel your entire island of Sicily, not solely his personal firm, into the way forward for the wine enterprise. Lucio developed an curiosity in French varieties, and in 1979 he persuaded his father, Giuseppe, to domesticate Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. In doing so, he launched Sicilian Cabernet and Chardonnay to the world in 1988 and 1989 respectively, experimenting with barrique ageing, tender urgent throughout vinification, and shorter pruning.
Later, Lucio turned an early adopter of expertise. Underneath his management as president since 1998, Tasca d’Almerita turned one of many first wine estates on this planet to introduce software program to assist fine-tune the winemaking course of.
Nevertheless, it could be mistaken to imagine that his affect was solely targeted on worldwide grape varieties and trendy winemaking. His conviction and need to unfold consciousness about native varieties equivalent to Nero d’Avola – identified in the present day all around the world – has opened the doorways to recognition of Sicilian viticulture on a world stage.
Rosso del Conte, Tasca d’Almerita’s flagship crimson of Nero d’Avola and Perricone, is likely one of the best and most legendary examples of Sicilian high quality in addition to typicity and longevity. Underneath Lucio, the corporate expanded from the household headquarters at Regaleali to envelop a complete of 5 winemaking estates throughout Sicily: Regaleali within the coronary heart of the island; Capofaro on the Aeolian island of Salina (plus the distinctive Capofaro Locanda & Malvasia hospitality enterprise); Tascante on the slopes of Mount Etna; Whitaker on the tiny Phoenician island of Mozia; and Sallier de La Tour in Camporeale, not removed from Palermo.
In 2002, Lucio based Assovini Sicilia, the affiliation of entrepreneurs in Sicilian wine which he led till 2008. He was additionally a founding member of Italy’s Istituto Grandi Marchi, and from 2016 to 2018 was president of Associazione Grandi Cru d’Italia. ‘He was a real gentleman, a deep connoisseur of the world, of individuals and of wine,’ commented Carlo Ferrini, his winemaking advisor. ‘I liked to witness him entertaining and interacting along with his winery staff, his workers and with me. He was instantly capable of determine with us. A novel man, unforgettable. I’ll miss him eternally.’
‘One of many nice protagonists of Sicilian viticulture passes away,’ mentioned Antonio Rallo, president of Consorzio Sicila DOC. ‘Lucio Tasca d’Almerita has undoubtedly been among the many first to imagine within the potential of the island. Visionary, precursor, innovator, he has devoted all his dedication to the event of Sicilian wines.’
The funeral takes place in the present day in Palermo, the place his sons Giuseppe, Franca, Alberto and Alessandra will give him a remaining farewell.
