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ISSIMO x Women in Wine: Ilaria Cocco

January 29, 2026

ISSIMO x Women in Wine: Ilaria Cocco

Listening to the land of Montefalco, one bottle at a time

There are winemakers who inherit a legacy, and others who choose one, patiently building it from the ground up. Ilaria Cocco belongs firmly to the second group. After years abroad, she returned to her native Montefalco with a clear desire: to tell the story of her territory through wines that are honest and deeply personal.

Her winery is small, fiercely independent and connected to family memory, from childhood days helping her grandfather bottle wine to the decision, in 2007, to start her own project almost from scratch. Today, Ilaria works exclusively with indigenous varieties, crafting wines that favour authenticity. In a region known for powerful expressions, her approach is refreshingly understated, guided by a profound respect for the vineyard.

We spoke to her about coming home, working outside the rules, being a woman in a still-traditional world, and why some wines are made not for profit, but for love.

How did your journey into the world of wine begin, and what brought you back to Montefalco after living abroad?

I grew up with wine as part of everyday life. My grandparents made wine for the family, and as a child I helped with bottling and sealing bottles with wax. Those memories stayed with me, even though I didn’t study oenology or agronomy.

When I was living in London, I worked organising events where Italian companies presented their products and told their stories. At some point I realised I wanted to be on the other side, telling the story of my own territory. In 2007, almost impulsively, I left my job and came back to Montefalco to try. It was a leap, but one I felt I had to take.

Your winery is small and deeply family-run. What values guide your daily work in the vineyard and cellar?

Authenticity, above all. I want my wines to express the territory and the grape variety without unnecessary layers. Montefalco is often associated with very concentrated, powerful wines, but my instinct has always been to lighten things, to strip them back. Over time, I developed my own taste and interpretation, focusing less on wood and more on the essence of the grape. Every year is an attempt to refine that vision and stay true to it.

You work exclusively with indigenous grape varieties. Why is that so important to you?

Because they belong here. Using native grapes allows me to tell the story of this land in a more honest way. I work gently, with soft extractions and minimal intervention, to let both the grape and the soil speak. Even vineyards that are close together can produce very different wines, and that diversity is part of the beauty.

“I want my wines to express the territory and the grape variety without unnecessary layers. Montefalco is often associated with very concentrated, powerful wines, but my instinct has always been to lighten things, to strip them back.”

As a woman winemaker, did you encounter particular challenges along the way?

Yes, especially at the beginning. I wasn’t coming from a well-known family winery, and I was proposing a style that didn’t necessarily fit the established mould. There was some scepticism.

It’s still a fairly male-dominated world, but I kept going because this was my path. I didn’t want to make a statement about being a woman, but rather let that perspective emerge naturally, even subtly, through my wines and their presentation.

What advice would you give to young women who want to pursue a career in wine?

If the passion is real, that’s what matters most. This is a demanding job, and you don’t do it for visibility or success alone. You do it because you feel connected to the land and want to create something alive, something that lasts. Difficulties exist for everyone, but perseverance makes the difference. In the end, results speak louder than anything else.

Is there a wine that feels particularly representative of your work?

The Sagrantino Passito, without question. It’s the wine I made with my grandfather and the reason I started this journey. It’s deeply tied to the history of Montefalco. It’s not an easy wine to sell or even to make, and it’s certainly not the most profitable, but it carries memory, tradition and identity. Without it, I don’t think you can fully tell the story of this place.

Looking ahead, what do you hope for the future of your winery?

My biggest dream is to live entirely from the winery and spend more time there, welcoming people, hosting tastings and sharing the vineyard and cellar firsthand. Wine changes when it’s experienced where it’s made. Being able to communicate the project directly, to bring people closer to this land and its wines, that’s what I hope to build, step by step.

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