I Clivi Schioppettino '21

When thinking of the wines of Friuli, i Clivi is a notable producer whose wines are benchmark expressions of the terroir of Friuli. The estate was founded by Ferdinando Zanusso, who was raised in the world of wine, his father having made wine for his tavern in Treviso, in Friuli–Venezia Giulia. Ferdinando purchased a vineyard in Friuli in 1996 and his son Mario, now at the helm of the estate, joined him soon after. All the vineyards, totaling about 12 hectares, are worked by hand, dry farmed and certified organic, with vines from 50 to 80 years old. They focus on the native varieties Ribolla, Friulano, Verduzzo, and Malvasia.

Mario Zanusso’s goal in working with the red variety Schioppettino (also known as Ribolla Nera) was to craft a red wine that would be counterpart to the region’s celebrated white variety of Ribolla Gialla. The year 2019 was the first vintage of this red wine, though it had been in the process of development for a long time. The Schioppettino grapes are about 50 years old and are grown in ponca soils (marl of marine origin), on a southeast-facing slope in Prepotto, which historically is the top cru for Schioppettino. 

The wine is fermented in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts, with about two weeks of skin contact, then matured in stainless steel for eight months. This offers beautiful aromas of macerated strawberries, pepper, and smoke. On the palate, it is fresh, with a continuation of the red fruit, balanced acidity, and soft tannins. Excellent with grilled meats such as lamb loin chops or hangar steak.