The Italian wine world mourns one of its most renowned and beloved figures: Ampelio Bucci passed away today at the age of 89. A true pioneer of Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi, with Villa Bucci, and much more.
Who was Ampelio Bucci, pioneer of Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi
Born into a family that had been involved in agriculture since the 1700s, producing premium durum and soft wheat, corn, peas, and seed crops, primarily in the plains of Ostra Vetere. Ampelio Bucci began his career in the Marche countryside.
He moved to the city and discovered the world, while maintaining strong roots in his homeland. After studying economics, he took over the family business, leading it to the pinnacle of the Denomination.
Beginning in the 1980s, in the hills of Castelli di Jesi, Ampelio Bucci developed his winemaking expertise, believing in the native Verdicchio grape, selecting special clones, seeking out highly calcareous soils, and developing all aspects of quality to create the Villa Bucci and Bucci Classico brands, with which he achieved the highest national and international recognition.
Born in Montecarotto (AN) in 1936, Ampelio Bucci dedicated his life to promoting Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi, transforming it into labels now recognized worldwide.
An emblematic figure in Italian wine, he was among the founders and promoters of the Italian Federation of Independent Winemakers (FIVI), which awarded him Independent Winemaker of the Year in 2021.
“Ampelio Bucci is a mentor to all of us winemakers and a beacon for Verdicchio, always generous in sharing his experiences and helping even the youngest colleagues. Many have learned directly from his words a style that manifests itself in the absolute quality of the wine, making it an authentic expression of a territory and its history.” This is how Matilde Poggi, president of FIVI at the time, described him during the presentation of the Leonildo Pieropan award.
In a statement released to ANSA, Michele Bernetti, president of the Marche Wine Protection Institute, emphasized today:
“The loss of Ampelio Bucci leaves an unfillable void in the world of Marche wine, and especially in Italy. With his tireless passion, he laid a foundational stone in elevating Verdicchio to an internationally recognized level of excellence. His vision, always bold and farsighted, will continue to be an inspiration for our entire Consortium.”
The baton of the company history written by Ampelio Bucci, to whom the journalist and food and wine critic Cinzia Benzi recently dedicated a passionate tribute monograph illustrated with images by Francesca Brambilla and Serena Serrani of the Brambilla Serrani studio, now passes into the hands of those who, in 2024, succeeded him at the helm of the company: the Oniverse Group (formerly Calzedonia), of which the winemaker remained until the end, following the acquisition of Villa Bucci by the Veronese company in 2024, as a consultant for the Marche winery.
