Collection: Schioppettino

Schioppettino is a historic red wine grape from north-eastern Italy, where it belongs in Colli Orientali del Friuli. Here it has deep roots, and cultivation is traditionally concentrated around Prepotto and Albana, where the vast majority of the Italian plantings lie, not far from Cividale. The grape's presence in Friuli can be traced all the way back to at least the 13th century, and today you will find it grown widely across Friuli-Venezia Giulia. At Copenhagen Wine we stock wines from precisely Friuli-Venezia Giulia, so this is where you truly encounter Schioppettino in its original form.

Schioppettino is not an easy grape to deal with. It ripens late, has fragile stems and is susceptible to peronospora, and in cool, rainy springs flowering can be troublesome, resulting in uneven yields. It is also very sensitive to terroir and rarely ripens properly in lesser growing sites. In return, it rewards the right conditions: cool microclimates with large swings between day and night and good ventilation give wines with high natural acidity and soft tannins.

In the glass, fully ripe grapes typically show as a medium-bodied wine with a refined, elegant style. One of the grape's hallmarks is a pronounced aroma of green pepper, which stems from a high content of rotundone, the same aromatic compound that gives peppery notes in, among others, Syrah. If the grape does not reach optimal ripeness, the wine may instead show more vegetal tones. If the grapes are left to dry partially in the air, fuller wines with more concentration emerge.

Schioppettino suits dishes where its fresh acidity and fine peppery nuance have something to play against. Try it with lamb, mushroom risotto or medium-bodied cheeses. It is a grape that deserves more attention, and one that shows Friuli can do far more than white wine.