Mark Shannon has a long history in California graduating from UC Davis and becoming the winemaker at Bogle Winery for a decade. During his consulting travels, Mark met future wife and business partner Elvezia Sbalchiero who was in the Friulian wine business herself. Intended as a holiday to Puglia in 1998, they fell head over heels with the vineyards. Thus began A Mano.
Their indigenous head-trained vines are between 70 and 100 years old, planted on deep red alluvial soils. Mark works closely with local growers as a substitute to the local coop, and he is well respected locally by setting criteria and standards.