The estate was founded by Andrea Felici, who began estate-bottling his wines in 2003. His son Leopardo took over in 2007, after spending time as a sommelier in fine dining restaurants. When he returned he and his father began converting the vineyards to organic farming. Today it is a 37 acre estate. The azienda remains a family project, united in pursuing the dream of creating a wine with aging potential which, even after many years, continues to show its own identity. To achieve this high quality, they avoid excessive yields, harvest by hand, and age for significantly longer than the appellation requirements. In 2020 Loepardo was awarded ‘Italy’s Best Winemaker’ by the Gambero Rosso Guide.
“Leopardo Felici has a great hand with the Verdicchio grape, producing two of the Marche’s best white wines. Clearly, the vineyard location in the cool-climate, hilly area between Apiro and Cupramontana is a big help, as the wines have high natural acidity, a strong mineral overlay and wonderful clarity. But strong viticultural and winemaking skills also play a role…Andrea Felici is a name to watch in Italian wine circles.” – Antonio Galloni