Lapo Mazzei, beloved patriarch of the esteemed Mazzei winemaking family of Tuscany, passed away on August 20 at the age of 94 on his Fonterutoli estate just outside Castellina in Chianti, Italy. Lapo served as chairman of his family’s three estates—Castello di Fonterutoli (Chianti Classico), Belguardo (Maremma), and Zisola (Noto, Sicily). His legacy is carried on through his sons Francesco and Filippo Mazzei, who had worked in closely with their father for decades as managing directors of their family winemaking dynasty.
Lapo was born in Florence in 1925 and began working with his family’s estate in Chianti while studying agriculture in college. From the early days of his career, he labored tirelessly to modernize Chianti. In 1974 he became president of the Chianti Consortium, a position he held for 20 years during which time he was instrumental in promoting the wines of the region on the international stage. He also played a key role in the modernization and renovation of his family’s estates.
A venerable figure in the national and international banking landscape, Lapo was also a former president of the Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze (The Savings Bank of Florence).
