Amano
Puglia, Salento, Italy
A Mano was founded in Puglia in the late 1990s by Californian winemaker Mark Shannon and his partner Elvezia Sbalchiero, and it quickly became one of the producers that helped change perceptions around southern Italian wine. At the time, a lot of Puglian wine was still being treated as bulk production or blending material, despite the region having incredible old vineyards and native grape varieties. Mark and Elvezia saw the potential immediately and built the project around working closely with growers, paying properly for quality fruit, and treating the vineyards with the same level of attention more commonly associated with higher-profile wine regions.
The winery is based in the Salento area of Puglia, surrounded by some remarkably old bush vines, many of them between 70 and 100 years old. That connection to traditional farming is a huge part of the identity of A Mano. The name itself translates roughly as “by hand”, which sums up the philosophy quite nicely. Even though the wines are polished and modern in style, there’s still a strong feeling of craftsmanship and hands-on winemaking running through the whole project.
What makes A Mano especially interesting is how much they helped elevate grapes like Primitivo and Susumaniello at a time when they weren’t being taken particularly seriously outside southern Italy. Rather than trying to imitate more fashionable international styles, the winery leaned fully into the warmth, generosity, and personality of Puglia itself. Over time that approach ended up influencing a lot of other producers in the region too.
Despite the reputation the winery has built internationally, there’s still something very approachable about the whole project. Nothing feels overly formal or luxury-driven. The focus has always seemed to be on making wines that genuinely reflect the landscape and culture of southern Italy while still being relaxed, open, and enjoyable to drink. That balance between quality and accessibility is probably why people tend to come back to the wines again and again.
