Before talking about La Mancina, we need to talk about Pignoletto. And to do this, first we need to talk about the Colli Bolognesi, which are its cradle. The wines produced by La Mancina strongly claims their area of origin, one of the seven sub-areas of the Colli Bolognesi DOC, the Terre di Montebudello.
The geographical area of the Colli Bolognesi DOC includes the foothills and mid-hill area between the Panaro river to the west and the Idice stream to the east. The area is crossed by the wide valley of the Reno river and by the smaller ones of the Samoggia, Lavino and Idice.
The altitude reaches 450 meters above sea level (Monte S. Pietro) and the soils and microclimates are extremely varied.
This Pignoletto grape probably owes its name to the medium-sized and compact bunch like a pinecone. Recent DNA analyses have shown that this grape is related to Grechetto, a grape that strives in central Italy, so it was re-baptized as Grechetto Gentile. Officially, the term Pignoletto indicates the wine, not the grape anymore, now.
In favorable years, the Pignoletto Classico Superiore DOCG can easily go several years of aging, where the already considerable structure is articulated and deepened with surprising thickness.
At the winery, I met Francesca Zanetti, now at the helm of the family farm, La Mancina. Tenacious and determined, Francesca firmly believes in the identity of the territory, and is working with a few small local realities, an agritourism and a restaurant, for the creation of the Montebudello "cru", which enhances and communicates the products, the vocation and the reality of this tiny area.
The pignoletto wines that are born by Francesca's vision can finally be a new paradigm of the territory. Not only the traditional sparkling white that has always accompanied the typical fried crescentine with salami, but an elegant and structured wine, which makes finesse and persistence a strong point. True gastronomic wines, an ideal match for a plate of tortellini or passatelli with truffle.
The reason for the name of the winery "La Mancina" (The Left-handed) is due to a reckless negligence of the old owners, who built the house without taking into account the direction of the winds and had found themselves having the pigsty upwind, so in the village it was called: “l'è una ca' manzèina”, it's a left-handed house, born crooked.
During the visit, I had the chance to taste some of the excellent wines of the winery.
Pignoletto Terre di Montebudello 2021: 100% pignoletto grapes from a 1973 vineyard, fermented and elevated in steel vats. In the glass, golden yellow hues take the place of the more usual greenish-yellow ones. Still young, the aromas tell you stories of blossom pollen, honey and beeswax that duet with grapefuit and yellow plums. Very fine and elegant, with a fresh finish of bitter almonds. It immediately calls for a new sip.
Talea 2019: 100% pignoletto grapes, from a particular "cru" localized on a layer of limestone soils in the same vineyard as Pignoletto Terre di Montebudello. Fermented and elevated in steel vats. The nose is welcomed by a carpet of aromatic herbs, sage and thyme. Very fine mouth, elegant and material texture, sapid and mineral with a long finish of asparagus and hazelnuts. Perfect companion for the fat dishes you can find in the restaurants of the hills.
Metodo Classico dosaggio Zero 2017: 100% Chardonnay, at least 36 months on its lees. It opens with notes of toasted bread and ripe fruit, to close with hints of pastry cream. Salty and acidic, citrus fruit heaven. So lovely, another traditional method from the Bolognese Hills that rocks.
The wine estate is open to visitors, for more info:
Via Motta, 8 - 40053 Valsamoggia, loc. Monteveglio, Fraz. Montebudello Bologna - Italia
Tel: (+39) 051 832691
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