Manzone Giovanni 1925, Monforte d'Alba, Italy

We had an exceptionally good time tasting wine at this family run winery. The great granddaughter of the founder gave us the tour. • The estate focuses on high-altitude, steep hillside vineyards, including renowned Crus such as Gramolere and Castelletto, producing elegant and age-worthy Barolo. • Manzone follows a sustainable approach with organic practices, low yields, spontaneous fermentations, and extended aging in large Slavonian oak casks.

Stefano Manzone, born in 1860, founded the current winery. His son Giovanni, born in 1886, won the Ciabot del Preve, which was the former parish priest's house and farm located in Castelletto. This area was particularly challenging to cultivate due to its distance from the main property and its difficult terrain. Giovanni and his wife Maria relocated there, driven solely by the will to survive the difficult years ahead. This moment marked the beginning of the winery's history. Giovanni was a visionary who had previously worked as a cellarman in one of the area's most innovative wineries, the Cantina Sociale di Monforte d'Alba, established in the early 19th century by Monsignor Dall'Orto. However, following the Great War, this winery closed due to the spread of phylloxera. In 1925, Giovanni moved to Castelletto's Ciabot del Preve and began producing wine, leveraging his prior experience. During this time, the post-war Langhe region experienced a significant decline in population as many abandoned rural life for urban opportunities. Giovanni Manzone was among the few who chose to remain in this rural setting. Driven by innovation, he purchased the first Lamborghini crawler tractor—an essential tool for working the steep slopes of Castelletto. This acquisition was so significant that it attracted interest from other local farmers who sought to rent it. The property continued to expand over time. In the early 1970s, the Manzone family acquired additional plots known as Gramolere, which translates to "weed and stones" in Piedmontese dialect. These lands were historically recognized for producing exceptional grapes and wines with remarkable structure and longevity.