Wines from Friuli

"M" stands for Mario Schiopetto. This is the wine that the children have dedicated to their father for years and it is the undisputed white flagship of the winery. This exceptional Friulano with a dash of Riesling seduces with elegant aromas of white flowers, a little smoke and spirited fruit. Ingeniously balanced, fresh and of considerable length and great ageing potential. SUPERIORE.DE

"Dried peach, mango and pear with some melon. Flint, too. Full-bodied, tight and focused center-palate with density and energy at the same time. Spiced pear and matchstick at the end. Very complex and complete. From 60-year-old vines in a single plot of Collio." James Suckling

Pure-varietal Pinot Nero, produced only in the best years. Fine, very elegant bouquet of redcurrant, blueberry and sweet spicy notes. Cool and lean on the palate, of Burgundian finesse and structure, the fruit discreetly underpinned by fine spice and wonderfully polished tannin. Long and complex with aristocratic restraint and blessed with great ageing potential. SUPERIORE.DE

Merlot Dominin 2019 is explosive from the first sip. The rich bouquet is complex with raspberries, flowers, liquorice and herbs. The palate is extremely complex with overripe and opulent fruits. A wine with sheer exuberant elements, but nevertheless very coherent in its entirety. Everything is in the right place here and it is clearly the flagship wine of the boutique winery and on par with the great red wines of Miani. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2019 Merlot Vigna Dominin opens with a dramatic bouquet, blending crushed blueberries with mentholated herbs and sweet tobacco. This is suave and elegant with a rush of polished red and black fruits while taking on a savory spiciness toward the close. The 2019 finishes incredibly long, as a web of fine-grained tannins wraps the palate in youthful poise. Black currant and chalky mineral tones slowly fade into the background. This powerful vintage of Merlot Vigna Dominin will require time to show its best. That said, it will be worth the wait." Vinous

Borgo del Tiglio's Malvasia Italo & Bruno (of which only 1,200 bottles were produced) is a delicate wine with pretty scents reminiscent of white flowers, gardenias and honeydew melon. There is also a distinct mineral note, but here it is more dusty or ashy than salty. This is an exceptional expression of Malvasia, a versatile grape with particularly floral flavours when in the right hands. SUPERIORE.DE

Just 828 numbered bottles were bottled of this rare speciality. High-quality pear distillate from perfectly ripened and hand-picked Williams pears with fine maturation nuances due to 2 years of storage in Limousin oak barriques. A beguilingly beautiful brandy of great intensity and softness. Without added colouring agents. SUPERIORE.DE

Felluga's Picolit is a perfect example and explains the popularity and reputation of this rare and traditional sweet wine. Golden yellow in colour, it has a wonderful aroma of honey, white flowers and ripe tropical fruit. The sweet and rich flavour is characterised by a pleasant viscosity and impeccable balance. SUPERIORE.DE

"A", as it is called in the winery, represents the qualitative peak of Schiopetto. This wine is made from Chardonnay grapes and a small part of Friulano, which come from a historic single vineyard site of the winery in the Colli Orientali and achieve a unique expression. A perfect synthesis between the expressiveness of Chardonnay and the aromatic complexity of Friulano, this white wine shows the quintessence and full personality of the Friulian territory and is dedicated to Mario Schiopetto. SUPERIORE.DE

"This is a very serious chardonnay with subtle aromas of apple pie, flint and lemon curd. Holding back, but enticing you with every scent. Full-bodied with density and energy and lots of flavors, yet it’s dry and racy at the end." James Suckling

Ronco della Chiesa is another inspiring expression from one of Italy's most exciting white wine artists: the wine is made from 100% Friulano and is aged for 10 months in barriques. Its complexity is extraordinary. The wine grows in intensity with every passing minute, with notes of white peach, nectarine, poached pear and crushed limestone. As it progresses, there are hints of baked sweet bread or buttery croissant. On the palate, a very pleasing, medium fruit weight with beautiful, balanced acidity. Its quality clearly comes more from the fruit than from the winemaking. Only 2,600 bottles of this great Friulano were produced. SUPERIORE.DE

Fine grape spirit from the selection of fresh Moscato Giallo from Vallagarina-Trentino. Smells of May roses, aromatic, fresh and floral on the palate. SUPERIORE.DE

Rare Fragolino grapes from Nonino's own vineyards produce this exceptional grape spirit. Clear and pure, the aromas are reminiscent of blueberries and wild berries. SUPERIORE.DE

Delicate and aromatic grape brandy from Traminer grapes, smells of roses, nutmeg and a little of blackcurrant. Memories of the dessert wine from Pantelleria come to mind. SUPERIORE.DE

A 100% Merlot from the Colli Orientali is always special: intense, full thrust of fruit with a wonderfully plush texture and simultaneous definition, although the style remains powerful, ripe and intense. Flowers, spices and liquorice add race and class to this exceptional wine. Great Merlot cinema. SUPERIORE.DE

The brilliantly clear Grappa Cru Monovitigno Pignolo was produced in very limited quantities and bottled in 150 numbered decanters with a vintage label, exclusively available only at SUPERIORE.DE It is a single-varietal grappa made from marc of the rare Pignolo grape from the Nonino vineyard in Buttrio in Friuli. It is rich, elegant and velvety smooth with a pronounced wild berry flavour.

With "Cru Monovitigno Pignolo", the Noninos are taking part in the "Omaggio a Venezia" project, an initiative involving prestigious Italian brand producers such as Alessi, Loro Piana, Missoni, Tod's, Trussardi and others. "Omaggio a Venezia" aims to help the city fathers of Venice to preserve the artistic and architectural heritage, this unique and unmistakable style of Venice.

Part of the proceeds from the sale will be given to the city of Venice for the restoration of the 17th century "Camerino degli Stucchi" in the Ca'Rezzonico Museum. SUPERIORE.DE

Ronc di Vicos Refosco is bottled as a varietal wine only in the best years. It is a dark and complex wine that requires great attention and further bottle ageing. Aromas full of dark spices, liquorice and leather, it is fruit-forward on the palate with firm and pinpoint tannins flanking an explosive and full-bodied finish. SUPERIORE.DE

The winery's flagship white wine is called Studio di Bianco and is a blend of 40% Friulano, 35% Sauvignon Blanc and 25% Riesling, aged for 10 months in large barrels. It is an exceptional white wine, certainly one of the best in Italy, with a unique energy and tension reflected in a complex bouquet. A cornucopia of floral aromas, stone fruit, peach cake, honey and vanilla cream explode in the glass. The medium-bodied texture of the wine finishes smooth and very defined, revealing a unique complexity and elegance. The total production per vintage is just 1,900 bottles and anyone who has had this wine in their glass at least once in their life should consider themselves lucky. SUPERIORE.DE

Amber-coloured grappa made from the marc of selected grapes from Friuli with an ageing period of eight years in small barrels of various woods. Soft, elegant bouquet, complex, velvety and persistent on the palate. We discover fruity and floral notes, vanilla and almonds, dried fruit and grapes. Serve this fine Riserva at room temperature in balloon-shaped glasses and allow the distillate to rest in the glass for a few minutes to allow the flavours to come into their own in full harmony. No added colourings. SUPERIORE.DE

"Light amber with golden reflections. Intense and aromatic on the nose with notes of apricot, cherry, plum, chocolate and spices. Rich and elegant on the palate, with a very long finish." Falstaff

ÙE Merlot Gran Riserva matures sealed and supervised by the Italian Customs and Monopolies Authority for over 12 years in sherry casks from Jerez de la Frontera in the company's cellars.

Natural amber colour with a golden sheen. Very elegant on the nose with sweet scents of marzipan, sultanas, iris, violets and candied fruits, which are echoed in the lingering taste and with balsamic notes.

Glass bottle with diamond cut by hand, with a gold label printed by hand in silkscreen with the signature of the master distiller and chef de cave Benito Nonino. Without added colouring. SUPERIORE.DE

It is not every year that Enzo Pontoni produces a single-varietal Malvasia from the small Mont di Zuc parcel. With the 2022 vintage, a few hundred bottles were once again bottled. Pale straw yellow in colour. Very rich, inviting bouquet of oak, pear and peach that immediately casts a spell. Lots of pressure and power on the palate - an intensity that otherwise only a red wine possesses. The long finish is characterised by notes of lemon, minerality and well-integrated wood. Be sure to aerate and serve at approx. 12°. A long-lasting pleasure with savoury dishes and sushi. SUPERIORE.DE

The Rosso della Centa is a 100% Merlot that comes from a small vineyard on the south-western slopes of the hills of San Giorgio in Brazzano. Red grapes are grown on this one-hectare plot of land, most of them Merlot. The soil of this marvellous field is typical of the Collio, as it was formed by the fragmentation of the alternating layers of marl and sandstone that form the foundation of the hills. The slopes are very steep, which is why the field was terraced and stabilised with dry stone walls.

The wine captivates from the very first swirl of the glass with its distinctly floral bouquet, in which violets and roses combine with menthol and wild blueberries. On the palate, it impresses with its cool personality and a pure blend of mineral blackberries, accompanied by sage and exotic spices. Nuances of dark chocolate, cloves and black liquorice linger on the long and lightly structured final, which is framed by sweet tannins and cedar wood. Rosso della Centa is breathtaking, but it still needs a few years to show its very best side. SUPERIORE.DE

Josko Gravner's Ribolla Gialla is not only a captivating, class-defining and skin-deep white wine, but also the one that has made him a cult winemaker and can be found on every cutting-edge wine list around the globe. Every sip brings with it unfathomable depth, curiosity and intoxicating opulence, opening up new dimensions of flavour every hour. With more than 50 vintages, no one but Josko knows how long they will continue to make wine. That's why we always advise buying these rare wines while they last!

Deep orange with amber-coloured reflections. Seductive, initially slightly reductive, oxidative, sweet bouquet of dried orange, peach and sweet spices. On the palate, it has an impressively silky texture with lush fruit, honey notes, hints of baked apple and vanilla. It is firm, stable and could be mistaken for a red wine when tasted blind. Be sure to temper it to 14-16°C, decant and keep a little for the next day! SUPERIORE.DE

Aristocratic! The whole world regards Picolit as "la Regina delle Grappe" due to its character, harmony and the emotions it evokes with every sip. Pure and crystalline, its nose is reminiscent of full honeycombs, acacia flowers, ripe quinces, fresh Moscato and freshly picked figs. In the mouth, the sensations of the nose are confirmed with the additional flavour of bread crust. Very persistent aftertaste. SUPERIORE.DE

Bottled by hand in hand-blown bottles with silver stoppers. The fill level may vary as each bottle is unique.

"... with a hint of delicate grape perfume; the middle nosing passages offer elegant but deceptively powerful flavours of grapes, tropical fruits (especially pineapple) and marc; the final nosing shows the multi-layered, concentrated and focused aromatic characteristics of great grappas, while the grapeiness harmonises with the alcohol ... a textbook grappa flavour that is unlike anything I have experienced before ..." Paul Pacult

"Typical spiciness on the nose, coffee and cocoa, forest floor, grassy and pine-needled, vinous, compact, but rather restrained. Resinous on the palate, very spicy, transparent, consistent, very dry, the alcohol very well integrated, coffee on the finish; an athlete." Falstaff

"A single varietal grappa made from Picolit grapes, this is clear in the glass and has a delicate floral aroma. The palate opens with zesty lemon peel, leading into white blossoms and a long finish lifted by white pepper and a faint hint of cherry." Wine Enthusiast

It is reported that the hermit Alemanno chose the hill of Rosazzo as his spiritual retreat in the year 800. Around 200 years later, the Augustinians taught the local population the principles of agriculture here. The Pignolo grape variety can also be traced back to this place until the end of the 18th century. Sensitive and low-yielding, it had almost disappeared by the end of the 19th century and was rediscovered and re-cultivated in Rosazzo.

In 1983, a massal selection of a biotype with characteristically small grapes in the shape of pine cones was planted beneath the wall of the Antico Belvedere. The material, which is available in very small quantities, matures in second-use barrique barrels, which tames the natural, strong tannins and makes the wine supple.

Medium, deep garnet red colour with dark reflections. Expansive, intense and extremely complex bouquet of dried plum, red blackberry, sour cherry jam and tamarind, carried by cigar box aromas, followed by hints of blueberry, rhododendron blossom, bracken, violet and elderberry. With further aeration, black pepper, clove, incense, cherry, coffee and cinnamon. On the palate, the exuberant, almost overwhelming impressions continue with complex and spicy nuances. There is also an impressive freshness and the typical, present tannin, which is never too intrusive but forms a perfect unity with the great concert of flavours. With further aeration in the glass, you get an approximate impression of the impressive fullness and complexity of an exceptional Pignolo, which is not without reason one of the terrificred wines in Italy and leads you on an unforgettable journey of pleasure right up to the last sip. Around 1,000 bottles are only produced in the best vintages. SUPERIORE.DE

"Crazy aromas of balsamico and mussels with moss, forest flower, lead pencil, and iron. Cigar box. Medium body. Very savory and unique with tobacco leaf, cigar, cedar, wet earth, and dried mushroom. Very unique and thought-provoking." James Suckling

Rich and refined top cuvée from the white grape varieties of Friuli. The bouquet of white flowers and yellow fruit has a pleasantly smoky note. Opulent flavours of yellow and white fruits, dried apricots and honey on the palate, the balanced acidity provides backbone and structure. SUPERIORE.DE

"Sparkling straw yellow with delicate nuances of green. Stone fruit, peach and some apricot on the nose, subtle flint notes and a hint of vanilla. Powerful on the palate, lively acidity, delicate phenolics, mouthwatering finish." Falstaff

"Clean and mineral, with a saline undertone and vibrant flavours of freshly sliced apples and pears, blanched almonds, almond blossom and a hint of ground white pepper. Fresh, chalky finish." Wine Spectator

"The 2019 Abbazia di Rosazzo is more delicate and nuanced, with dusty dried flowers, crushed almonds and sweet smoke on the nose. It feels silky yet almost weightless and floats on the palate with a savoury mix of white stone fruits and inner flowers. It leaves a hint of minerality and finishes with a beautiful tension that leaves flinty notes of liquid stone and Bosc pear. The Abbazia di Rosazzo is an understated beauty." Vinous

"This wine has definitely moved into tertiary aroma territory. With a deep, off-gold color and orange highlights, the Livio Felluga 2019 Rosazzo Abbazia di Rosazzo shows aged tones of preserved lemon, candied orange peel, dried guava and sweet almond. Fermentation is in stainless steel, and the wine sees some aging in large oak casks. There are mild white-wine tannins and a hint of peppermint to close." Wine Advocate

"Fascinating aromas of ash, wet stones, dried apples, hints of honey and flint. Tar. Full-bodied with great density and energy. Framed and firm. Vine bark with mushrooms. Reserved. Old vines. 80 to 100 years old." James Suckling

Calvari explodes on the palate with an abundance of plums, sour cherries, graphite, flowers and minerals. This towering, massive Refosco remains extraordinarily pristine: indeed, it tastes like biting into a perfectly ripe grape from this old vineyard! A deep, baritonal register develops in the glass as this profound wine gradually reveals its pedigree. Until now, we have only known such class from Miani. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2020 Refosco Vigna Calvariv is youthfully coy. It slowly emerges from the glass with a hauntingly dark bouquet as wild berries and currants come together with lavender, sweet smoke and the slightest hint of clove that adds a lovely contrast. This is pure elegance, silky, nearly creamy in feel, with a polished wave of ripe red and black fruits complicated by depths of salty minerals. Sage and dark chocolate traces mingle toward the close. The 2020 tapers off on a note of refinement, tannic and firm, yet not achingly so, leaving a bitter blackberry tinge that makes for perfect punctuation. This is a well-muscled stallion chomping at the bit, yet patience will be rewarded." Vinous