Winemaker Notes
A totally encapsulating indigenous red from Friuli. Ronchi di Cialla, and their minimal intervention winery, is credited with saving this magical red grape from extinction. Few red grapes in the world are capable of producing wines with this sort of profile. Soft and bright red fruit characteristics are partnered by the most amazing white pepper and tobacco leaf notes, all carried by an elegant, almost creamy body and delicious acidity. Leave it in your glass and you'll be joined by subtle notes of dried mint, eucalyptus and fennel, all the while the wild strawberries and juicy raspberries persist and expand. This is an exceptionally elegant wine, with a truly unique personality that is a pleasure to behold.
The Rapuzzo family of Ronchi di Cialla in Friuli's Colli Orientali region saved this wondrous grape from its permanent disappearance and aren't we thankful they did. Made from 100% Schioppettino grapes, this wine is aged for four years, with 14-18 months’ maturation in barrels and 30-36 months of ageing in bottles. Try with peppered and grilled red meat and a ripening hard cheese.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2019 Schioppettino di Cialla is darkly floral with an exotic citrus tinge up front, complicated by sweet herbs, earth tones and wild strawberries. It smooths over the palate, elegant in feel with ripe red and blue fruits complemented by a hint of brown spice, yet all lifted by cooling acidity. This leaves a tart raspberry saturation and rosy inner florals while finishing long and gently tannic with a pleasant bitter bite that pinches at the cheeks. It is already enjoyable today, yet experience confirms that it will also age remarkably well.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The Ronchi di Cialla 2019 Friuli Colli Orientali Sottozona Cialla Schioppettino di Cialla shows a lean and delicate profile with soft fruit tones of small berry and dried raspberry, all framed by the distinctive peppery notes—especially freshly milled white pepper—associated with this fascinating grape from northeast Italy. You get a lot of character here, and the wine’s lean mouthfeel gives it an especially food-friendly personality that, with its natural acidity, would pair beautifully with fried finger foods. Produced from fruit sourced across five vineyards totaling five hectares, this wine also carries historical weight, as the estate played a key role in rescuing Schioppettino from near extinction in the 1970s.
Beyond the usual suspects, there are hundreds of red grape varieties grown throughout the world. Some are indigenous specialties capable of producing excellent single varietal wines, while others are better suited for use as blending grapes. Each has its own distinct viticultural characteristics, as well as aroma and flavor profiles, offering much to be discovered by the curious wine lover. In particular, Portugal and Italy are known for having a multitude of unique varieties but they can really be found in any region.
Viticulture has thrived in Colli Orientali del Friuli since the reign of ancient Rome and today its verdant, rolling hills support a long list of autochthonous varieties, each playing a unique and important role in the modern Colli Orientali wine scene.
The region is primarily recognized for its white wines. Its indigenous varieties of Ribolla Gialla, Verduzzo, Picolit and perhaps most importantly, Friulano are made into single varietal wines or blended, and often blended with the international varieties of Sauvignon blanc, Pinot grigio and Pinot bianco. The latter have been flourishing in the area since the 1800s. But it wasn’t until the 1970s when producers started using cold fermentation techniques to produce fresh, fruity, crisp and aromatic whites that this area began to attract international attention.
While reds only make up about a third of the area under vine, Colli Orientali is home to some of Italy’s most exciting and rare red wines. Refosco, Schioppettino, Tazzelenghe and Pignolo are among the autochthonous varieties while Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir also have a stronghold.
Colli Orientali holds much in common with its neighbor, Collio; the only thing dividing them is a political line. Both are influenced by the cooling effects of the Julian Alps and moderated by the Adriatic Sea. A unique soil of alternating marine layers called flysch also dominates Colli Orientali, providing a mineral-rich environment for vine roots and optimal water drainage.