It was with heavy hearts that we learned yesterday of Nicola Durandi’s premature passing.
He was a grape grower, winemaker, and entrepreneur with deep ties to the U.S. and the state of Texas, where he visited regularly.
According to local media reports, the cause of death was a heart attack. He was 43 years old.
His family’s Antonutti winery and estate in Grave (Friuli) is one of Italy’s most highly regarded. And its wines have won countless awards and other coveted accolades over the nearly 100 years it has been producing top wines.
His work brought him often to Texas and we always looked forward to his visits and tastings. He and his family’s wines were recently featured at a virtual wine dinner hosted by another IACC member here in Houston where our headquarters are located.
That’s Nicola (right) in the photo above with his Texas sales manager Melania Spagnoli, another close friend of the chamber and one of Houston’s leading wine professionals.
With his broad smile and hearty handshake, Nicola had become one of Houston’s favorite Italian winemakers. He will be sorely missed.
The IACC would like to share its heartfelt condolences with his family, his winery, and his team here in the U.S.