Fall 2022 Offer #6: Manaresi

Manaresi - Pignoletto Frizzante NV

Bottom Line - Manaresi’s Pignoletto Frizzante NV (non-vintage) is a lively and refreshing artisanal sparkling white wine made in the hills just outside of Bologna. Pignoletto Frizzante is an ideal substitute for overly sweet Prosecco, and Manaresi makes one of the best examples. My notes: “Nothing sugary; bright citrus, cedar, evergreen; serious but lean and focused. So fresh!”

Manaresi - 2020 Pignoletto Classico

Bottom Line - The Pignoletto Classico is a rich, fruit-driven still white wine that exhibits a more serious side of the Pignoletto grape. Like the Frizzante, it’s brisk, fresh, and food-friendly. But the Classico also shows another level of flavor depth and complexity. While the Frizzante would be my choice as an aperitivo, or alongside mixed appetizers (especially fried ones), I’d go with this wine next to heartier fare like pasta, chicken, fish, or even pork. My notes: “Tropical hints up front, turning more earthy; mango, citrus, subdued herbs; full-flavored in the mouth, with explosive ripe fruit, balanced by stony undertones. Eye-opening Pignoletto.”

To order, just click the one of the links above and follow the prompts. Keep reading for more in-depth information on Manaresi and these wines.

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Wine friends,

Manaresi’s Frizzante NV was featured during our spring beta test, and reviews were nothing but positive. One Open Tuesday member commented, “it’s just fresher and better than Prosecco.” I couldn’t agree more.

Warning: Manaresi’s irresistible Frizzante may compel you to double your order next time around. A few of our founding members can attest to the reality of this “problem.”

I intended to include the Pignoletto Classico in the spring offer, but unfortunately Manaresi ran out of bottles. It seems there’s a lot of demand for their Classico, which isn’t surprising. I’m thrilled we have access to a small parcel of the 2020 version, a wine that’s more expressive and energetic than the 2019. 

The 2020 Classico is both rich and razor-sharp at the same time. That’s the hallmark of many great wines, but it’s not something you see very often from a Pignoletto at this price point.

Pignoletto, both frizzante and still, is known for its ubiquity in the bars and cafes of Bologna, the beautiful old university city from which my wife Sarah hails. (Please see Sarah’s input in the Food Pairings section below.)

Historically, Pignoletto was not made with quality in mind. In recent years, however, Manaresi and a few like-minded Colli Bolognesi wineries have changed the narrative, focusing on quality over quantity.  The proof is in the pudding, and the wines are now delicious. In and around Bologna, Manaresi has a reputation for making elegant, honest wines that communicate a sense of place.

Some background about Manaresi that I lifted from our spring offer: 

Donatella Agostoni is the winemaker and owner of Manaresi. She is also the granddaughter of Paolo Manaresi, a painter and engraver from Bologna who was one of the more prominent Italian artists in the early 20th century. The wine estate was named after Paolo Manaresi and his works adorn the walls inside of the winery. The winery logo, which you’ll see on the label, is his signature; Manaresi’s engraving techniques inform the award-winning label designs. Here are a few fun pictures of Donatella and Fabio.

Manaresi only produces about 55 thousand bottles of wine a year. Click here to get an idea of the territory and surroundings at Manaresi. Check out our Facebook and Instagram accounts, where I’ve posted photos from my visit to Manaresi yesterday.

Wines from the Pignoletto appellation are made with the Grechetto Gentile grape, a variety native to the Colli Bolognesi. Here’s Manaresi on a map of central Italy.

Food Pairing: 

My wife Sarah is Bologna DOC, so I’ll let her handle the advanced pairing recommendations:

“I like to drink Pignoletto with a local specialty, crescentine con affettati misti (crescentine are also known as gnocco fritto - so, fried gnocchi with a mix of cured meats). Do not forget to include some mortadella or culatello di Zibello if you are a meat lover! Another favorite with Pignoletto would be tigelle con pesto di lardo (a round bread from Modena with lard pesto.) Sorry, this is also for meat lovers! Please eat it with grated parmigiano reggiano cheese on top. Last but not least: tortellini con crema di parmigiano (tortellini in a parmesan cheese mousse).”

Open Tuesday has the lowest price in the U.S. on both of these wines.

Manaresi - Pignoletto Non-Vintage

11.5% ABV

Manaresi - 2020 Pignoletto Classico

14.0% ABV

To order, just click the links above and follow the prompts.

Happy Tuesday,

Chris

If you have any questions or feedback, please email us: [email protected].  

How it works: 

After clicking one of the links above, you’ll be able to request 1-12 bottles. Actually, that’s all you have to do!

About a week later, when we close the offer, you’ll get an email confirming how many bottles we allocated to your account. We will charge you when the wines are allocated.

We’ll do our best to allocate all the bottles you request. But when there are more requests than bottles available, we’ll allocate one bottle to all requesting members before allocating a second bottle to anyone. We want as many members as possible to try these wines.

This is the 6th of 18 (or so) offers during the fall season. Look for our offers on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays through the first week of November.

We ship in increments of 12. With 18 offers this season, there should be plenty of chances to get to 12, 24, or 36. If you don’t have an increment of 12 at the end of the fall season offers, we can hold your wines until the next offer season – spring 2023.

Wines offered in the fall will ship in late November-early December for $5 per bottle (if you have an increment of 12.) This is about the same as the price to ship coast-to-coast within the U.S. – but our wines come directly from Italy.

Once your payment method is on file, you can make future requests with just a few clicks from the offer email. If you don’t have a card on file, you can add one during your first order. Your personal financial information is protected by Stripe.

Chris MacLean

Rob Genova

Open Tuesday Wines S.r.l.s.

Via Augusto Anfossi 19, 20135 Milano - Italy