The birth of the Manzoni Bianco grapevine, or Incrocio Manzoni 6.0.13 was encouraged by a constant interest, that developed in Europe in the middle of the nineteenth century, for the genetic improvement of the grapevine by cross-breeding as a possible solution to many diseases, due to unknown plant parasites, that during that period caused a deep crisis for viticulture all across Europe.
Mendel's new discoveries on the potentiality of genetics, supported the experimentations of the cross-breeding of different varieties of vines which first aimed at obtaining table grapes and then were directed also towards wine grapes. The pioneer was Prof. Muller that obtained the famous Muller Thurgau by crossing Riesling and Silvaner vines.

The Incroci Manzoni

The research in Italy, and particularly in the Veneto region, began in 1924 thanks to Prof. Luigi Manzoni who, together with Prof. Dalmasso, aimed to the obtainment of a new white and a new red grape variety that could have replaced or complemented the traditional ones that at that time grew in the Doc Piave Area.
The series of combinations of cross-breedings developed at the Viticulture and Oenology School of Conegliano, were carried out in two different periods: the first one between 1924 and 1930 was characterized by 2 numbers (the first indicated the number of the row and the second one the number of the plant). The second period, between 1930 and 1935, was identified by a three figure number in which the central one was always a zero.
Prof Luigi Manzoni used several grapevines for his experiments, but only some of the combinations gave satisfactory results. In Veneto, in the ‘40s and ‘50s, the 2.50 and 1.50 cross-breedings had a significant propagation as well as the Manzoni Bianco 6.0.13, a crossing between Riesling Renano and Pinot Bianco, and the Manzoni Rosso 13.0.25 a crossing between Raboso Piave and Moscato d'Asburgo.