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Life, Wine, Vision: 25 Years with Elena Fucci
For some years now, I have been following my passion for food and wine, a journey that has led me to discover extraordinary stories behind a glass of wine or a drop of EVO oil. Along the way, I’ve been fortunate to get to know many producers and restaurateurs in Basilicata—authentic people who put their hearts into what they do every day.
What drives me in my work—first as a naturally curious person, and then as a Sommelier—is not simply tasting a product, but telling the story behind it: the people, the passions, the choices, and even the curiosities of those who create it. Because every bottle, every flavor has a soul, and I love bringing it to light. At a certain point, I felt the need to give this journey a name: I called it Vitinerario®, a word that captures the essence of my path.
On a warm afternoon at the end of June 2025, I set out for Barile, a small village about 40 minutes from Potenza. Waiting for me is Elena Fucci, winemaker and the soul of the winery that bears her name. Elena greets me with her usual radiant smile and the innate energy that defines her. We’ve known each other for a while, having crossed paths many times over the years, and this isn’t my first visit to her winery—a place where tradition blends seamlessly with elegant modernity. We move to the tasting room, among the amphorae that safeguard Titolo, the flagship wine of her production, for a conversation about stories, wine, and territory.
Becoming a wine producer was not an easy path, especially at the beginning. The wine world is demanding, selective, and carving out a space among established names requires sacrifice, determination, and a clear vision. Elena’s winery was founded in 2000 and today, 25 years later, celebrates an important milestone. A quarter of a century may seem brief for such a renowned estate, but the road that brought her here has been intense, marked by courageous choices and relentless work. And that is what makes Elena profoundly proud: having built something great from a dream, without ever losing sight of her roots.
Wine is in Elena’s DNA! Her grandfather also worked in winemaking, though in a very different era and with approaches far removed from today’s standards. To stand out now, however, commitment, perseverance, and investment aren’t enough—you also need curiosity, open-mindedness, and the willingness to travel and engage with the wider world. If the goal is to go beyond one’s own borders, you must learn to look far. And making a good wine is not enough; you must also know how to tell its story, to convey its soul. This is where Elena shines: communicating her wine with authenticity comes naturally to her, as though she were talking about a part of herself.
After graduating in Pisa, Elena’s story led her to broaden her horizons with formative experiences in Bordeaux and Bolzano. She then returned to Barile, bringing back new ideas and expertise. Supporting her in this adventure is her family, always by her side, and Andrea Manzani, a Florentine engineer with a passion for wine, now an adopted Lucanian. The two met in 2011 in Florence at a wine fair, and from that first encounter something greater was born: in 2015 they married, uniting life and work in a shared project that continues to grow.
Following the great success of the iconic Titolo, their most recent project is called Verha, a word that in the ancient Arbëreshë dialect means simply “wine.” The initiative began with Andrea, who independently started a simple but meaningful practice: purchasing grapes from local farmers. After a somewhat rocky start, he and Elena decided to commit fully, producing the first bottles of red wine. Thus was born a project that Elena likes to call “social,” a tangible way to support small local growers—not only by buying their grapes, but also by offering guidance in vineyard management. It’s a gesture that goes beyond winemaking, helping sustain the rural economy and counteract the depopulation that has plagued Lucania for years.
The Arbëreshë culture remains a vital part of Barile’s identity, and the old dialect is still spoken in several towns across the Vulture area. This cultural heritage is reflected in the winery’s labels: along with Verha, another wine carries an Arbëreshë name, SCEG, meaning “pomegranate.”
Staying in this world of cultural crossovers and authentic flavors, I cannot help but think of a dish particularly dear to me: Tumact me tulez (pronounced roughly “Tumaz ma tugl’”). Elena explains that it’s a humble recipe, handed down through generations: handmade tagliatelle made with just water and flour, dressed with breadcrumbs. Over time, the recipe has evolved with the addition of oil, tomato, anchovies, walnuts, garlic, and parsley—becoming a dish that tells the story of the land, its people, and its ability to evolve without forgetting its roots.
When we talk about Titolo, her flagship wine, Elena defines it with a phrase that captures her entire winemaking philosophy: “A modern Aglianico del Vulture, but not modernist.” It’s a subtle yet profound distinction. The project was born from the desire to interpret the grape with a contemporary outlook, without betraying its identity.
Three pillars underpin this vision: acidity, minerality, and tannicity. Acidity is intrinsic to Aglianico, a hallmark that ensures longevity and freshness. Minerality, on the other hand, is a direct gift of the volcanic soil of Vulture, which imparts a salty, profound note. And then there’s tannicity—the grape’s cross to bear and blessing—which Elena works with patience and skill, taming it without stripping it of character.
The grapes for Titolo come from a historic vineyard at 600 meters of altitude, where sharp summer temperature swings and low yields per vine help concentrate aromas and structure. To this is added meticulous work in the cellar: grape selection, short macerations, and careful aging in hand-picked barriques. This is where Elena’s hand as a winemaker comes through—transforming every detail into elegance and finesse, giving life to a wine that expresses Vulture in an essential and uncompromising key.
At the end, I ask her what, in these 25 years of work, has moved her the most. Elena pauses for a moment, then smiles and tells me about her travels abroad, often overseas to the United States and Canada. With sparkling eyes, she describes the queues outside wine bars, people patiently waiting their turn to shake her hand and have a bottle signed.
But the emotion grows even stronger when she recalls one special episode: in 2023, she unexpectedly received a letter from the Quirinale. It was the President of the Republic himself, writing to appoint her Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic. As she recounts the story, her eyes shine with gratitude and pride—for a recognition that is not only personal, but a symbol of an entire life spent with dedication, love, and respect for her land.
Luigi Chiera
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