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Nicodemo Librandi dies, aged 78
Nicodemo Librandi, a pioneering figure in Calabrian wine, died late last month in Consenza.
Librandi spent the first decade of his working life teaching mathematics before dedicating himself to his family winery, alongside his brother, Antonio.
The Librandi winery started in 1953 with 6 ha of vines. During the 1980s and 90s, the company underwent significant expansion, growing to its current size of 232 ha under vine.
During his stewardship, Librandi became Calabria’s first truly international wine brand, exporting across the world and helping the region to gain recognition for its unique wines made from grapes such as Gaglioppo and Greco Bianco.
He will be remembered not just for his entrepreneurial success but for his dedication to research into his native region’s forgotten indigenous grapes. Since 1993, the winery has operated an experimental field in its Ponta-Duca Sanfelice vineyard where it has resurrected varieties such as Pecorella and Mantonico.
Last May, he was awarded the title of honorary research doctorate in agricultural, food and forestry sciences, for his work in the field, by the University of Reggio Calabria.