About Ronchi di Cialla
Ronchi di Cialla is a historic estate located in the Cialla valley within the Colli Orientali del Friuli DOC in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, northeastern Italy. Founded in 1970 by Paolo and Dina Rapuzzi, the estate is credited with reviving several nearly extinct indigenous grape varieties, most notably Schioppettino, Refosco di Cialla, and Picolit. The winery produces wines exclusively from native Friulian varietals and has been a benchmark for the preservation of the region's viticultural heritage.
Prices are for take away and shipping. The wine bar serves from its own list.
The winery
About Ronchi di Cialla
History
Ronchi di Cialla is a small family estate in the Cialla valley, in the Colli Orientali del Friuli. Paolo and Dina Rapuzzi revived the property in 1970, and their sons Pierpaolo and Ivan now carry it on. The aim has stayed narrow from the start: grow the old native grapes of Friuli and make a limited range of careful wines. The family says it pairs traditional knowledge with modern scientific methods.
The land and the vineyards
Cialla is a small valley running from northeast to southwest, closed in by woods of chestnut, oak and wild cherry. The microclimate is mild enough that olive trees still grow there, and the name Cela is said to mean Riviera in the local Slavic language. The vines stand on Eocene marl.
The slopes are cut into steep terraces facing the sun. The estate says they go back to the time of the Patriarchate of Aquileia and the Venetian Republic, and local tradition credits Turkish prisoners with building them. A ministerial decree of 30 October 1995 recognised Cialla as a cru for specific native varieties: Verduzzo, Picolit and Ribolla Gialla among the whites, and Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso and Schioppettino among the reds. The cru rules limit yields and the grapes are picked selectively. A computerised microclimate station guides the treatments in the vineyard, which lets the family keep interventions to a minimum.
The wines
The estate makes red, white, rosé and sweet wines, and a line of vintage wines. Schioppettino has a section of its own on the winery site, which shows how central the grape is to the house. Next to it stand Ribolla Gialla, Verduzzo, Picolit and Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso, the varieties the Cialla cru is built around.
Today
Ronchi di Cialla is still small and still in family hands, with the second generation at the head. The site lists a Biodiversity Friend certification from the World Biodiversity Association and presents it as part of the family care for the valley.
- Founded
- 1970 (revived by Paolo and Dina Rapuzzi)
- Main grapes
- Schioppettino, Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso, Ribolla Gialla, Verduzzo, Picolit
- Owners
- Rapuzzi family (Pierpaolo and Ivan)