A Mano Fiano/Greco 2010
Producer
Mark Shannon and Elvezia Sbalchiero, the duo behind A Mano, have worked in the wine business for most of their lives. Elvezia is a northern
Italian wine-marketing expert and Mark is a Californian winemaker. They fell in love with Puglia and, when they decided to start their own
label, made it their home. By producing wines of quality, Mark and Elvezia have succeeded in making Primitivo one of Italy's most talked
about grape varieties. They pay high prices for the best grapes from 70-100 year old vines and focus solely on quality and a modern style.
After over a decade of vintages, they are now getting access to some of Salento's best grapes.
Vineyard
The A Mano Fiano and Greco vineyards are situated in Valle d'Itria, in the heart of Puglia. The valley provides a constant airflow from the
Adriatic sea to the warmer interior regions of Puglia. The fresh breezes lower the night time temperatures, encouraging the development of
the lovely perfumes in the grapes. The soils are well-drained on a soft rock base. This wine is made from the Fiano minutolo clone from Puglia, which
resembles Riesling or Viognier, as opposed to the Fiano di Avellino which is used to make the DOC wines from Campania.
Vintage Information
Puglia had a difficult year according to Mark Shannon. "We had an extended cool, wet spring and a very normal summer until mid July.
The third week of July saw 10 torrid days, which is normal, but it seemed to have a deleterious effect on all fruit and vegetables
(possibly because of the unusually high water content in the soil". Harvest for whites started mid August and the early ripening whites
such as Fiano had a high ripeness and all the attractive characteristics that go with it.
Vinification
15% of the Fiano was put into small boxes and dried for two months. This slow ‘appassimento‘ concentrated the flavours, sugars and
acidity. The rest of the grapes were crushed, pressed, settled and fermented together for 3½ weeks at 7°C. This retained all the delicacy
and fruitiness of the varietals. Once the drying process is complete, the wine from the dried grapes was blended with the cold fermented
wine from the fresh grapes. The final blend was bottled under screwcap to preserve the fresh fruit character.
Tasting Note
Explosive floral notes, exotic fruit flavours, a crisp acidity and a refreshing finish.
