Elena Fucci
The Fucci family has lived on their estate in Basilicata since 1960, when Elena Fucci’s grandfather purchased six hectares of vineyards at the highest point of Contrada Solagna in Titolo, at the foot of Mount Vulture, an extinct volcano. In 2000, as the family prepared to sell the property, Elena made the decisive choice to preserve the land, transforming a former bulk-wine estate into an award-winning, terroir-driven winery. A bold and energetic visionary, she devotes herself exclusively to Aglianico, the “King of the South,” farming Mount Vulture’s oldest vines—some over 70 years old—on dark, mineral-rich volcanic soils. This singular terroir, paired with Elena’s uncompromising leadership, yields wines of striking depth, character, and authenticity.
Our Relationship
I have been working with Elena so long that I cannot recall how we met. It wasn't in her region, but perhaps a tasting of great Italian wines I attended in 2009. None the less, we've enjoyed a lovely working relationship as she's clearly mastered Aglianico from Vulture. What a risk... one wine made from only a few hectares at the highest elevation of vineyards in the appellation... oh, and on laboriously challenging volcanic soil!
6 hectares
1960s, 3 generations
Organic
Volcanic lava and ash mix