The Manzoni
Grape
A series of grape varieties created by crossing existing varieties, the most famous being Manzoni Bianco, a cross between Riesling and Pinot Blanc. Developed by Professor Luigi Manzoni in Italy, these grapes produce aromatic wines with characteristics of both parent varieties, offering flavors of peach, citrus, and floral notes, with a good acidity and minerality.
Manzoni
Grape History
The Manzoni grape is a relatively recent addition to the world of winemaking, having been created in Italy in the 20th century. It is a crossing of the two popular grape varieties, Riesling and Pinot Blanc, developed by Professor Luigi Manzoni in the 1930s at the Viticulture Institute in Conegliano, Italy.
This grape was specifically bred to combine the aromatic qualities of Riesling with the full body and structure of Pinot Blanc, resulting in a grape that can produce a wide range of wines from dry whites to sweet dessert wines. The Manzoni grape is known for its high acidity, excellent balance, and ability to express the terroir in which it is grown.
The Manzoni grape is primarily grown in northern Italy, particularly in the Veneto and Friuli regions. It thrives in the cool climate and hilly terrain of these areas, producing wines that are crisp, refreshing, and full of flavor. The grapes are typically harvested in late September to early October, depending on the desired style of wine.
Manzoni grapes are used in both single-varietal wines, where they showcase their unique characteristics, as well as in blends with other grape varieties. Some popular wines made from the Manzoni grape include Manzoni Bianco, which is a dry and aromatic white wine, and Manzoni Rosa, a sweet and floral dessert wine.
In recent years, the Manzoni grape has been gaining recognition and popularity among winemakers and wine enthusiasts alike. Its versatility in winemaking, ability to adapt to different climates, and distinctive flavor profile make it a valuable grape variety with a promising future.
As wine producers continue to experiment with different winemaking techniques and promote the uniqueness of the Manzoni grape, we can expect to see more diverse and high-quality wines made from this grape variety in the years to come. The Manzoni grape is a shining example of how innovation in grape breeding can lead to the development of exceptional wines that delight the palate and offer a new perspective on traditional winemaking.
Introduction
Hello, my name is Franklin Laurel - Welcome!
I started drinking wine in 1992 when I was in my early twenties and recently married. Like many other young Southern Californians, it started out with White Zinfandel. As we were a couple of young DINKs just beginning life together, and on a budget, our go-to-wine was Sutter Home White Zinfandel, which tasted a lot like wine coolers and probably cost at the time $2.49. If we really were going to splurge, we would step it up and buy Beringer White Zinfandel for $2.99. Those were the days....
After a little time, we decided to get fancy. We stepped up our game and bought some wonderful 2-Buck Chuck from Trader Joe's. The Charles Shaw (Trader Joe's Exclusive Label) wine, also known as 2-Buck-Chuck extended our pallet into Reds for only $1.99 a bottle. Over the years we continued to grow in our understanding of wine (finally ran into some good wine) and we slowly kept buying better and better bottles.
Our first wine club purchase was from Kenwood's Vineyards, in Kenwood, California located in Sonoma Valley, right next to the famous Napa Valley. I began to learn about tobacco leather, and earthiness, and lots of other strange terminology when tasting their signature Zinfandels (of the red variety). So that is how it all began.
Fast forward a couple decades, and we have been members of five different wine clubs, and now have a passion for California's red wines. My favorite by far is Cabernet Sauvignon, while my wife fancies a good Syrah, Malbec, or Merlot - but she also loves the smell of a wine barrel room, which is all about the notes of Cabernet Sauvignon.
As I come across great wine resources and useful information that I find in planning my own wine trips, I will share here for anyone that might stumble across my humble website.
Cheers! - Franklin Laurel