Schioppettino

Schioppettino is a native grape variety of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of Italy. It was almost extinct and forgotten for decades and was saved by local winemakers in the 1970s.

Schioppettino is a dark-skinned grape variety, producing a range of hues from purple-ish ruby red to garnet. Its aroma and taste profile is that of cherries, plums, black current, along with subtle notes of green peppercorns. Schioppettino has good acidity and smooth tannins. When aged, the wines can also exhibit complex aromas of underbush, tobacco and tar.

Schioppettino is native to the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of Italy, where it is grown predominantly in the Collio Goriziano and Colli Orientali del Friuli DOCs. It is also grown in small quantities in the Sonoma County in the California. Schioppettino is a relatively low-yielding variety and vines tend to be low-vigour. It is sensitive to vineyard site, the microclimate is the key to its full ripeness. For this reason, Schioppettino wines can have different styles, depending on the terroir and the winemaking process. The style range from smooth, elegant wines, to Amarone-like, air-dried rich wines. The appellations associated with Schippettino the most is Colli Orientali del Friuli DOC. The wines are perfumed, elegant, with great potential to age and develop more complex taste profile. Schioppettino is a versatile wine that pairs well with a range of foods. Its fresh acidity makes it a great accompaniment to grilled meats and fish, as well as tomato-based dishes.

The salvation of Schioppettino took a lot of efforts.

A mayor who spent years campaigning for Schioppettino's rehabilitation. In 1977, an emergency town council meeting was held with the "save Schioppettino" motion and finally made the grape listed in the authorized list.