Full bodied and elegant wines grown and harvested in Barbaresco, Langhe and Barolo.
Manera Fratelli’s family winery is nestled in between the famous towns of Barolo and Barbaresco and is very close to the newly announced UNESCO World Heritage Site, which covers five historic wine-growing areas. This area is very special in Italian history and grows some of Italy’s most sought-after wines.
A short 5 kilometers (3 miles) away from Alba you will find the Manera Fratelli Family Winery – one that is very special to us. On our first trip to Italy we discovered Manera’s Serafino Barbera Superiore at a small pizzeria in Alba. We were absolutely blown away by their wine and made sure to set up time to visit their winery.
Manera Fratelli was founded by Lorenzo Cesare Manera in the 1950s. Soon after planting the vineyards, his sons Franco and Luciano Manera joined their father and began helping manage the vineyards and business. Originally the goal was to produce and sell grapes only, but the family quickly expanded as they began to grow different varieties of grapes and produced small batches of wine for the family to enjoy.
In 2005, when Franco and Luciano’s sons joined the business, they started to renovate the winery and decided to make more wines typical of the area. The majority of the vineyards owned by Manera are in the Barbaresco area, but they also have a small plot in La Morra, a small hilltop village in Barolo. Manera’s production is only 3,000 cases of wine, and their small production allows them to focus on high quality wines while still practicing environmentally conscious and sustainable farming methods. Today, the brothers Luciano (82 years old) and Franco (69 years old) are both still very involved in the daily operations of the winery, and you may even catch a glimpse of Franco out in the vineyards on a tractor during harvest.
Explore Manera Fratelli Wines
The winery is primarily run by Franco and Luciano’s sons, and since it is a small family-owned business everyone does a little bit of everything to keep the operations running smoothly. Daniele Manera is in charge of the wine making, Carlo Manera takes care of all of the business operations including marketing and sales, and Gabriele Manera in responsible for managing all of the vineyards.
During harvest, the grapes are picked by hand and then quickly transported to the winery where they are processed. After many months of hard work and diligent care, their grape juice is transformed into full bodied and delicious wines. Manera offers a wide range of wines including Barbaresco, Barolo, Barbera, Nebbiolo and some typical Piedmontese white varietals like Arneis and Favorita. They also produce small amounts of a Rosé, a sparkling Brut and Moscato d’Asti. You can visit the winery daily for tastings, but we highly recommend that you pre-book your experience by contacting the winery directly ahead of time. A visit includes a trip to the vineyards, an explanation of their winemaking process and an indulgent tasting paired with local products. If you plan to visit in autumn, you can request to do a truffle hunt with Franco Manera and his dogs. More information can be found at https://www.maneravini.com.
If you are looking for a delicious, full-bodied wine then look no further than the selection from Manera. If you are interested in learning more about the grapes used in these wines, how to perfectly pair your wine with a meal, or if you’re interested in trying something new that you have not previously enjoyed then please contact us so we can help you find the perfect wine. We encourage all wine enthusiasts to purchase their favorite wines but also explore new varietals and be pleasantly surprised. As you plan your travel and vacation for the upcoming year, we also encourage you to visit the Piedmont region where you will find a rich culture, historic grand cathedrals, five-star hotels and quaint Agriturismos, charming cobblestone streets, award-winning restaurants, incredible wine and so much more.
