Castellaneta
Province of Taranto
Established: 1998
Owners: Mark Shannon & Elvezia Sbalchiero
Winemaker: Mark Shannon
Production: 235,000 bottles
Viticulture: Conventional
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 Sbalchiero. Mark’s passionate professionalism has achieved a winning combination of terroir, technology and Apulian tradition (hand-cultivated, low-yielding old vines, not to mention the winery wood-fired pizza oven).
Fiano-Greco is a 75/25 blend of two classic southern Italian varieties, co-fermented at very low temperature. This particular clone of Fiano (known locally as Minutolo) is very aromatic and features apricot blossom and musk while the Greco is responsible for the wine’s crisp acidity and refreshing finish.
The Rosato, made from 75% Primitivo and 25% Aleatico, is a vibrant pink (the same colour as Puglia’s wild cyclamen). Intensely perfumed with floral aromas of honeysuckle and carnation, the palate has ripe cherry and strawberry fruit with refreshing acidity.
Puglia’s unique alluvial soil, deep red and sienna-coloured, is ideal for the native Primitivo vine, still head-trained as they were by ancient Phoenicians. The 2009 is, we think, Mark and Elvezia’s best release to date, balancing vibrant, chewy raspberry fruit with hints of blueberry, leather and spice with velvety tannins and a long finish. With this vintage, Mark has blended a small amount of Aleatico (5%), something that used to be quite common in Puglian winemaking, giving the wine some floral and savoury notes.
Wines
Fiano Greco IGT
Rosato IGT
Primitivo IGT