Lucio Tasca d'Almerita dead at 82

The Sicilian winemaker Lucio Tasca d'Almerita**** from the winery of the same name has died at the age of 82. Together with Giacomo Rallo and Diego Planeta, he was one of the pioneers and visionaries of modern Sicilian viticulture. Together they revolutionised the quality and image of Sicilian wines and founded the Assovini Sicilia association in 1998. Lucio Tasca d'Almerita was, among other things, a founding member of the council of the Italian Institute for Quality Wines "Grandi Marchi", president of the "Grand Cru d'Italia Association" and from 2002 to 2008 president of Assovini Sicilia. At the end of the 1970s, he was one of the first to experiment with international varieties in Sicily, planting Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc. In 1988 and 1989, his first Sicilian Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay were released. Driven by his vision to establish Sicily as a quality region, he relied on modern cellar technology very early on.

The original Regaleali estate, acquired in 1830 by the two Tasca brothers in central Sicily, was joined over the years by Capofaro in Salina on the Aeolian Islands, Tascante on Mount Etna, the historic Whitaker estate on the island of Mozia and Sallier de La Tour in Monreale. His sons Alberto and Giuseppe Tasca continue to run the company in his spirit today.