In fairy tales, there are often young men who go out to seek their fortune, a sack on their back. Sometimes, in the world of wine, it happens in real life. This is the story... Read More

In fairy tales, there are often young men who go out to seek their fortune, a sack on their back. Sometimes, in the world of wine, it happens in real life. This is the story of Manuel “Manu” Michelini.

Manu grew up in a wine-producing family in Argentina. His Dad believed strongly in allowing his kids to seek out their own path in life. One vintage, he gave a bunch of grapes to Manu and said “Here, make some wine”. Manu did his best.

Still very young, Manu eventually put that sack on his back and went to Europe. He knocked on every door in Burgundy, asking if he could help. Most people said no. But Bize, Roulot, and Ramonet all welcomed him, and suddenly he was on his way to learning how to make great wine in a terroir-oriented Burgundian fashion.

But Manu’s destiny did not lie in Burgundy. He was drawn to Rioja, where land was plentiful and there was an ancient wine tradition that had not yet been (widely) translated into the more pure-fruited, terroir-focused wines of today. He went there and started Dominio del Challao.

He is still only 28 years old, but he has somehow managed to work 30 harvests! (Yes, those Southern Hemisphere harvests count too.) So he offers that rare combination of deep experience and youthful innovation.