Ronchi di Manzano Refosco 2018

Red Plum, Wild Raspberry, Cassis, Black Pepper, Toasted Walnut

This selection comes to us from a region popular among wine geeks, yet relatively unknown to the general public- Friuli Colli Orientali. This mountainous region, located in the extreme northwest of Italy, is categorized by its proximity to both the Alps and the Adriatic Sea, resulting in a moderate climate with a long growing season. In addition, the distinct Eastern European influence on its wines is present, with an emphasis on single varietal wines, primary flavors, and moderate to high acidity. Roberta Borghese and her family have owned the Ronchi di Manzano vineyards (“Ronchi” is the local term for “Steep Slopes”) since 1969, and today she is joined in the winery by her two daughters, Lisa and Nicole. The three women have consulted in France and California as well, but always return home to their native Friuli.

Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso is the most famous member of the Refosco family of grapes, which are native to Slovenia, Croatia, and Friuli. It is easily recognizable by its red stems, hence the name of the grape, which translates into “Red-Stemmed Refosco.” It requires significant sunshine hours, but is quite water-resistant, making the Colli Orientali an ideal place for its cultivation. Though Refosco has grown here since the days of Ancient Rome, these vines have been re-planted as of 2004 to increase yields without sacrificing quality.

To make this wine, the Refosco grapes are hand-harvested at the end of September, then brought to the winery for hand sorting and destemming. The grapes are gently pressed and spend roughly 2 weeks macerating on the skins in stainless steel. After removal of the skins, the wine is racked into large French oak barrels, mostly neutral, for a full year. The wine is then lightly filtered before bottling, and sees an additional two months of bottle maturation before release.