Ascevi Ronco dei Sassi Collio Sauvignon 2013
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The City of San Floriano del Collio nestles among gently rolling hills covered with vineyards, cherry trees and acacia woods, within the Friuli Venezia Giulia region near the Slovenian border. It is here that Mariano and his wife Loredana planted their first vineyard on a small plot of land in 1972. Over the years their great commitment and enthusiasm has allowed the estate to increase its area to approximately 30 hectares, situated in the Collio and Friuli Isonzo DOC zones, which have always been prime winegrowing country.
The hamlet of Ascevi is the name of the area where the largest vineyard (approximately 6 hectares) is located. Luwa is derived from combining the names Luana and Walter, Mariano and Loredana’ s children. The Collio vineyards are situated at an altitude between 180 - 250 meters above sea level in soil with good structure and mineral content made up of stratified marl and sandstone. Most of the estate’s production comes from these vineyards.
Capable of a vast array of styles, Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp, refreshing variety that equally reflects both terroir and varietal character. Though it can vary depending on where it is grown, a couple of commonalities always exist—namely, zesty acidity and intense aromatics. This variety is of French provenance. Somm Secret—Along with Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc is a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon. That green bell pepper aroma that all three varieties share is no coincidence—it comes from a high concentration of pyrazines (herbaceous aromatic compounds) inherent to each member of the family.
Collio is a crescent-shaped sub region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia that hugs right up against the Slovenian border. It is perfectly situated for growing wine grapes, especially of the white variety.
The Julian Alps to Collio’s north allow the influx of cool, nighttime breezes, while the Adriatic Sea to its south regulates the region’s temperatures. The area contains flysch soils,locally known as, ponca, a layered, sedimentary rock that formed millions of years ago as continents collided under the sea. Today the flysch soils that dominate the hills of Collio provide an interesting substrate for vine roots, with measurable mineral variations within small areas. The fractured layers of flysch soils also facilitate drainage and deepening of vine roots.
The region boasts a unique set of indigenous white varieties including Friulano, Ribolla Gialla, Malvasia and the rare, Picolit. International whites—Pinot Grigio, Pinot Bianco, Sauvignon (Blanc) and Chardonnay—have also been in the area for well over 100 years. Today Collio is often associated with crisp, clean, floral and fruity whites. But in recent years, there has been a resurgence in popularity of the ancient Slovenian style of fermenting white grapes on their skins. This process retains additonal colors and phenols, producing a complex finished wine with an orange hue, warranting the term, "orange wines."
Reds are far less common but the indigenous Pignolo makes an age-worthy red, and the international varieties Merlot and Cabernet grow here as well.