Few producers have done more to define the character of Vermentino di Gallura than Piero Mancini, whose family estate on the granite-studded hills of northeastern Sardinia has been quietly setting the standard for more than three decades.
Backstory
Piero Mancini was born in Gallura but left to study at university and eventually built a career as a dentist in southern Sardinia. Throughout those years he maintained a deep connection to his homeland, planting his first vineyards in the 1960s and learning the craft alongside established estates in the region. In 1989 he founded the winery officially, guided by a clear philosophy: let the Climate, Soil, and Vineyard form the foundation of every bottle. Today his children Alessandro, Antonio, and Laura run the estate together, with Alessandro overseeing the vines and commercial operations, Antonio managing technical and administrative affairs, and Laura leading marketing and communications.
The Region
Gallura occupies the northeastern corner of Sardinia and holds a singular distinction: it is the island's only DOCG appellation, awarded for its Vermentino di Gallura. The area sits close to the Costa Smeralda and is defined by ancient granite soils, persistent sea breezes from the Tyrrhenian, and intense summer sunshine tempered by cool nights. This combination produces Vermentino of exceptional aromatic intensity and structural precision.
Vineyards & Farming
The Mancini estate covers approximately 120 hectares of certified organic vineyards spread across four distinct parcels: Balajana, Scolombrino, Montelitu, and Ciabattu. Each site contributes different nuances of minerality and freshness to the final wines. Sustainable farming practices, now formalised as organic, have long been central to the family's approach.
Winemaking
Mancini's approach in the cellar matches the restraint of the vineyard. The Vermentino di Gallura DOCG is fermented at low temperature in stainless steel with no oak aging and no malolactic fermentation, preserving the grape's vibrant aromatics and natural acidity. The result is precise, mineral, and unmasked by wood or artifice.
The Wines
The flagship Vermentino di Gallura DOCG is the estate's calling card: pale and luminous, with notes of white flowers, citrus zest, and bitter almond that are characteristic of the variety at its best. The range also includes Vermentino di Sardegna DOC, Cannonau di Sardegna DOC, and a line of sparkling wines, all expressing the same commitment to precision and terroir honesty that Piero Mancini established at the estate's founding.
