Italy

A•Mano

Castellaneta

Winemaker: Mark Shannon

In Puglia, the boot heel of Italy, the grape variety we know as Zinfandel is called Primitivo. A•Mano (meaning hand made) is the labour of love of the incredibly energetic and enthusiastic American winemaker, Mark Shannon, and partner, Elvezia Sbachiero. Mark's passionate professionalism has achieved a winning combination of technology, Apulian tradition (hand cultivated, low-yielding old vines, not to mention the winery wood-fired pizza oven) and terroir. Bianco is a 50/50 blend of two classic southern Italian varieties, Fiano and Greco. This particular clone of Fiano is very aromatic and features apricot blossom and musk whilst the Greco is responsible for the wine's body. Rosato, made from Malvasia Nera, is dry and refreshing.

Puglia's unique alluvial soil, deep red and sienna-coloured, is ideal for the extract-packed native Primitivo vine, still head-trained as they were by ancient Phoenicians. The 2007 is, we think, Mark and Elvezia's best release to date, balancing vibrant, chewy raspberry fruit with hints of blueberry, leather, anise and cedar with velvety tannins and a long finish. Finally, Passito is made from Aleatico, naturally dried for three weeks under the hot Puglian sun. An intense nose of concentrated overripe dark berry fruit and floral notes, this is begging for a chocolate-based dessert.

Visit the wine-maker's website

Wines
Fiano Greco IGT
Rosato IGT
Primitivo IGT
Aleatico Passito IGT