Elena Fucci, Aglianico SCEG 2019

The 70-year-old vines produce few clusters per plant, but with an extraordinary richness and concentration of aromas. At the end of the manual harvest, the best bunches are fermented in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature, with maceration on the skins and very delicate extraction. The wine matures for a year in 500-liter tonneaux and is then refined for a few months in the bottle in the cellars of the estate.

The Fucci family have cultivated grapes at the foot of Mount Vulture in Basilicata since the 60’s. They own 6 hectares of vines which surround the family home, at the highest part of Contrada Solagna of Titolo. Previously they only vinified their grapes for personal consumption and the rest was sold on to local vignerons. It wasn’t until the family were considering selling the estate vineyards that their daughter Elena (who originally had very different plans for her future), unable to bare the idea that the land she grew up on, the vineyards she played in as a child would be sold on to someone else, decided to step in and take over. Thrilled with her decision, the family gave Elena their full support. In fact, for Elena’s father Salvatore, this had long been a pipe dream and so was delighted to get involved, utilising the viticultural knowledge that he had learned from his father, who learned from his father before him. Elena attended University to study Enology, which she graduated from in 2000. With her new-found knowledge and skills, she returned to her beloved home to start a new chapter for her and her family as vignerons.