Colli Orientali del Friuli DOC Schioppettino 2020 (750 ml.) La Tunella

THE WINE

The Schioppettino from La Tunella is one of the definitely indigenous grape varieties of the Colli Orientali del Friuli. It undergoes a short drying period and fermentation with skin maceration, followed by aging in French oak tonneaux for about two years. It presents itself in a dark red hue that colors the glass, leaving behind dense and consistent legs. The aromas are elegantly full and pronounced, ranging from dried figs to nuts, with the balsamic scents of wood and a slight background of small black fruits. On the palate, it is broad and assertive: it envelops the palate with a velvety touch while showing itself to be compact and vigorous in its noble component of well-integrated tannins. An important red, suitable for contemplation and to pair with hearty dishes.

THE COMPANY

Between past and future, perfectly integrated into contemporary times. This is how one could define one of the most representative wineries in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and particularly in its Colli Orientali. A story in continuous evolution, which began over fifty years ago with a small amount of bulk wine, and continues today with the construction of the new winery, a functional place for a unique production with consistent quality.

From Friulano to Ribolla Gialla, from Malvasia to Schioppettino, to Pignolo and Picolit, passing through Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, “Biancosesto,” and Sauvignon, there is no wine from “La Tunella” that isn’t worth tasting.

And so we go back to the origins, when first grandfather Min and then father Livio Zorzettig started the agricultural business now led by brothers Massimo and Marco Zorzettig, the latter assisted by their mother Gabriella.

Currently, there are about seventy hectares of vineyards, of which 30% are planted with red grape varieties, while the other 70% is planted with white varieties. On soils composed of sandstones and marls, in a unique microclimate particularly favorable to viticulture, protected to the north by the Giulian Prealps, which act as a shield against the coldest winds, and warmed by the southern breezes coming from the Adriatic Sea, plants are cultivated that yield exceptional fruits, rich in every subtle nuance. Grapes that, after being harvested only at the right maturity, are transformed in the modern winery distributed over two levels and perfectly functional for all production processes: the basement houses the fermentation rooms, the drying rooms, the aging cellar, and the aging rooms, while the ground floor hosts the warehouse and the bottling plant.

The wines, labeled “La Tunella,” in which history, memory, and traditions coexist with new and creative energies, give rise to a solid and intriguing range capable of spanning from classic whites and reds to blends, sweet wines, and single-varietals: bottles resulting from careful enhancement of the territory and all its best features.