Frederick II of Swabia had a particular predilection for this land, and wonderful castles, still perfectly preserved, remain as testimony. King Manfred on the death of his father became regent of southern Italy in 1258. He was excommunicated by Pope Innocent IV, who opposed his political independence, elected King of Sicily in Palermo, and reigned until 1266, when he died in the Battle of Benevento.
Dante speaks of him in the Divine Comedy. Manfred emerges from Dante's text as a victim of the Pope's political power and of the misuse for political purposes of the totally religious and spiritual institution of excommunication.
Here King Manfred, son of Frederick II loved to retire, and it is to him that the winery dedicates its fine Aglianico.
In addition to Manfredi, Frederick II had other children including Flordelis, whom he had by his last wife Bianca Lancia.
The Bianco Basilicata IGT 'Bianca degli Svevi' and the Rosato Basilicata IGT 'Flordelis' are dedicated to them.
Re Manfredi was established in 1998, in the heart of Aglianico del Vulture DOC wine country, just a few kilometres from Venosa, the little town famous as the birthplace of Latin poet Horace in 65 BC.A smart, welcoming farmhouse is the centre of the estate, which has 100 and more hectares of Guyot and spurred cordon-trained vines.
Next to the farm is the modern and dynamic cellar of Re Manfredi, a unique structure in the area that has a pressing line with selection of the grapes, new presses and vats in wood and steel and small containers that allow the separate vinification of the grapes from different vineyards in order to preserve their peculiarities. The new structure also boasts a vault where 1,600 bottles of historic vintages can be found, dating back to 1998.
The new underground barrel cellar at a depth of 7 meters houses around 200 barriques for refining the Aglianico as well as alternative containers such as amphorae, clayver and oeufs de Beaune containers used to test different winemaking techniques. The cellar is also equipped with a photovoltaic system for the self-production of sustainable solar energy.
