Ronchi di Cialla Friulano Friuli Colli Orientali '22

Ronchi di Cialla is a historic producer in Collio Orientali del Friuli (about three miles from the Slovenian border), in the isolated, small, cool valley of Cialla, prized for its high proportion of limestone soils. Ronchi means “hills,” and cialla, the name of the valley, comes from the Slovenian word cela, which means “riviera.” It was given this name because of its microclimate’s similarity to that of the Mediterranean. Ronchi di Cialla was founded in 1970 by Paolo and Dina Rapuzzi and is now run by their sons Pierpaolo and Ivan, who have continued the winery’s focus on indigenous varieties. Their parents had always worked organically, though they never sought to obtain certification. Ivan and Pierpaolo have continued in the same tradition, though with a greater focus on biodiversity.
 
Friulano (aka Sauvignonasse or Sauvignon Vert) is known for producing wines that are lean, dry, and herbal, showing similarities to Sauvingon Blanc. The fruit for this bottling was sourced from a vineyard in the hills northeast of Lonzano, Dolegna del Collio, in the province of Gorizia. The average age of the vines is 50 years, and the soil is a mix of marl (clay and lime) with marly limestone. After one day of maceration on the skins, the grapes were fermented with wild yeast in temperature-controlled stainless steel. The wine was aged on the lees for at least three months with frequent bâtonnage, then aged for a couple of months in bottle before release.
 
The Friulano is fresh and vibrant, with notes of grapefruit, pear, and white peach, and a modest herbal note, slightly grassy and minty. On the palate, it’s dry and medium-plus in body, with elevated and well-balanced acidity, and a salty, slightly bitter mineral note. Pair it with a simple plate of prosciutto; a creamy, garlicky seafood pasta; veal piccata; or a frittata.