Prof. Luigi Manzoni started in 1924 for the first time in Italy, a long series of experiments on the cross-breeding of grapevines with the intent to identify new table and wine grape varieties.

He planned, together with Prof. Dalmasso, a series of cross-breedings carried out from 1924 to 1930 and from 1930 to 1935, using an international variety and an autochthonous grapevine to try to obtain a new red and a new white grape.

First period

The cross-breedings made in the first period were characterized by 2 numbers: the first one indicated the row and the second the plant. This group includes the experiments on table grapes Besgano x Moscato d'Amburgo and Dattero di Beyrut x Luglienga and on wine grapes Trebbiano x Traminer, Riesling Renano x Trebbiano and Prosecco x Cabernet Sauvignon.

Second period

Between 1930 and 1935, in order to distinguish them from those of the first period, Prof. Luigi Manzoni identified the cross-breedings with a three figure number in which the middle one was always a zero. The best crossings in this series were Riesling Renano x Pinot Bianco, better known as Manzoni Bianco 6.0.13 or Incrocio Manzoni, and Raboso Piave x Moscato d'Amburgo, called Incrocio Manzoni 13.0.25.

In the ‘40s the new varieties started to be widely planted, such as the rosè grape 1.50 (Trebbiano x Traminer) and the red grape 2.15 (Prosecco x Cabernet Sauvignon) although the national interest was directed towards Incrocio Manzoni or Manzoni Bianco 6.0.13.