An award-winning winemaker and grape grower brings his love of wine to Kent State students.

Tony Carlucci has brought his knowledge of enology, winemaking and viticulture — grape growing — to Kent State for the past 10 years.

“Teaching is a wonderful way of giving back to the students,” he said. “It is a passion that motivates me to give them a wonderful experience in my class.”

He teaches three classes: Geography of Wine, Wines of NE Ohio, and Wine and Food Pairing.

Carlucci said he came into winemaking by accident. His family moved out of the city when he was 11 and he started his own garden. He spent his first two years of college studying agronomy, the science of soil management.

“During my second year of college I heard about the winemaking program at Mississippi State University,” he said. “Being an Italian, I have always enjoyed food and wine and decided it was a fit for me. It was a great thing for me to do.”

He worked at a winery and two vineyards before starting his own wine consulitng business.

Carlucci said he is happy he chose winemaking because it is a lot more fun and interesting than agronomy. He said it has become his passion and his students agree.

“He is outgoing, friendly and easily approachable,” senior communications major Jennifer Schiavone said. “He is passionate about what he does. You can feel that passion the moment he starts talking. He is very enthusiastic about his work.”

Carlucci said he enjoys teaching his classes because he is able to bring the world of wine and food to others. He said it is also nice for students because it gives them a chance to get off campus for awhile.

In his spare time Carlucci enjoys spending time with friends and family, gardening, landscaping and traveling. He said he travels to Italy every other year and California the years in between.

“I’m a workaholic,” he said. “All my friends think I sit around and drink wine all day. But I’m really focused at what I do and work hard at it. I love it.”

Contact College of Arts and Sciences reporter Abbey Swank at [email protected].