About this wine
Vineyard and terroir
The Cortese is grown in the Gavi area on clay-limestone soils. The vines average 35 years of age, face south to southeast and are Guyot trained. Yield is 8,500 kg/ha. Vineyard management follows sustainable viticulture practices, and the wine carries Enrico Serafino VIVA certification.
Grapes
100% Cortese.
Vinification
The crop is harvested entirely by hand. Bunches are manually sorted on a vibrating table and chilled with carbonic snow, limiting oxidation and substantially reducing the need for sulphur. Handling is deliberately gentle and does not involve screw conveyors.
Whole clusters are softly pressed in an inert nitrogen atmosphere. A portion undergoes cool maceration in the press overnight. The must is chilled before controlled-temperature fermentation in stainless-steel vats.
Ageing
Maneo matures for an extended period on its own lees in stainless-steel tanks, followed by refinement in bottle. It is not released before the fifth year following harvest. The name comes from the Latin maneo, meaning “to stay” or “to wait,” a reference to this prolonged maturation.
Technical data
- Vintage: 2019
- Alcohol: 13%
- Winemaker: Paolo Giacosa
- Yield: 8,500 kg/ha
- Training system: Guyot
- Harvest: entirely by hand
- Cellaring potential: 10–12 years
Tasting profile
Straw yellow with characteristic greenish highlights. The broad, complex bouquet combines fresh wildflowers, mint, lavender and sage with flinty mineral notes, bergamot and white peach; extended maturation can also bring petrol-like nuances. The palate is fresh, mineral and very persistent, with a firm body, driving acidity and substantial flavour concentration.
Serving and pairing
Serve lightly chilled and give the wine a few minutes to open in a broad, generous glass. The wine page recommends 11–13°C, while the 2019 technical sheet specifies 10–12°C. Pair with fish appetizers, shellfish, seafood, sushi, risotto and delicate first courses, or serve as an aperitif.
Vintage notes
The 2019 season began slowly after a prolonged winter. Rain in April and cool conditions in May maintained a traditional pace of development. Warm weather in June and July, together with sufficient soil moisture, encouraged rapid vegetative growth. August was mild and brought good rainfall, allowing harvest to begin normally. The grapes were healthy and showed slightly higher acidity than average.
Label / history
Maneo is Latin for “to stay” or “to wait.” The name highlights the patient maturation that distinguishes this long-ageing Gavi del Comune di Gavi, offered for sale only from the fifth year after harvest.
