A cornerstone of a historic family, a passionate woman of wine, an authentic interpreter of her Franciacorta culture, and an entrepreneur of extraordinary value, Pia Donata Berlucchi has passed away. She carried with her years of experience, a profound love for her family, an untiring dedication to work, and the grit and decisive character of an “iron lady,” combined with the grace, elegance, and savoir-faire of a noblewoman of yesteryear. Strength and sensitivity, determination and grace coexisted within her: qualities that made her a luminous and unforgettable figure in the Italian entrepreneurial landscape.
In the final years of her life, she chose to modify her presence within the family business without ever wavering in her discreet yet fundamental role as President of the Freccianera, F.lli Berlucchi winery and as the guardian of its values and history.
A beloved past President of the National Association of Women of Wine (Donne del Vino) from 2003 to 2009, she also left a profound mark on the world of associations. She later served as national vice-president of O.N.A.V., championing initiatives of great value with enthusiasm and vision, such as the creation of the first Italian Wine Council (Consulta del Vino Italiana). It was a project that brought together the country’s main wine associations and testified to her desire to spread a new wine culture: one that is conscious, shared, capable of speaking to new generations, and of enhancing one of Italy’s most precious heritages in the world.
To define her simply as a “woman manager” would be an understatement. Pia Donata Berlucchi was much more: a woman capable of intensely living every nuance of existence. She deeply loved her family, her work, music, the mountains, reading, theater, art, the land, and the sea. She loved her home, her flowers, and the small daily gestures that she knew how to transform into beauty. From these passions she drew energy—the same energy she generously gave to those who were by her side.
The memory of a strong and luminous presence will remain alive for a long time—a woman who knew how to leave an authentic mark, not only in the world of wine, but in the hearts of those who had the privilege of knowing her.
Borgonato di Corte Franca
