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Pioneering Italian Vintner Giorgio Lungarotti Dies
Giorgio Lungarotti, who founded Italy's Lungarotti Winery in 1960 and was one of the guiding forces of the modern Italian wine industry, died on April 16. He was 88.
Lungarotti was instrumental in the creation of the Torgiano Denominazione di Origine Controllata in the Italian region of Umbria. A native of Torgiano, he is perhaps best known for red Rubesco wine. He also experimented with non-native grape varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, before they became popular in Italy and created a riserva called San Giorgio in the 1970s.
The vintner pursued several wine-related tourism ventures that were ahead of their time, including a hotel, Le Tre Vaselle, on the winery estate, and the Lungarotti Wine Museum, which ranks as one of the best in the world.
Lungarotti had passed management responsibility to his daughter Chiara and his stepdaughter Teresa Severini over the past several years. However, he was still involved in the company's operations and had been in the office only two days before his death.
"The best thing about him was that he was never satisfied with what he had and was always searching for greater quality," Severini said. "The best way to celebrate and remember my father is to continue his philosophy. We are going to continue with the same passion."
