A Mano

Founded in 1998, A Mano is owned and run by Mark Shannon and Elvezia ('Elvie') Sbalchiero and is located in the Puglia region, which makes up the heel of Italy's boot. A Mano means 'by hand', a fitting name for a property where the wines are made with painstaking craftsmanship and passion. Mark - a Californian - had been working as a 'flying winemaker' when he met Elvie, a wine marketer from the Friuli region in north-east Italy, in 1997. Mark went to Davis University - where it was discovered that California's zinfandel grape has the same DNA as Puglia's Primitivo - so it is fitting that he made wine in this part of Italy. Mark and Elvie had only intended to visit Puglia as a holiday in 1998. Still, when they landed, they fell head-over-heels in love with the vineyards and the light and color of the region. Mark had been making wine since the early 1980s, and his experience paid off because the first vintage of A Mano won a gold medal at the IWC (International Wine Challenge) in London. Between 70 and 100 years old, the vines are within Puglia's 'golden triangle' of vineyards. They are planted on deep red alluvial soils that impart structure and complex character to the resultant wines. Mark and Elvie only grow native Italian grape varieties such as Primitivo, Greco, and Fiano and cultivate all the vines by hand. The winery is packed with the latest technology, but Mark still tries to produce wines in a classic Puglian style. The aim is to respect the terroir of the region they hold so dear and only to preserve the character the vineyard gives the grapes. So, Mark always ferments at cool temperatures to retain the grapes' natural fruitiness. Mark and Elvezia drink their wine almost daily and like to create wines at prices that make them accessible to most people.

https://www.amanowine.com/en/