Since their founding in 1970, Ronchi di Cialla has emerged as one the most unique and underrated wine estates in Italy. Situated on a limestone-rich hillside, Paolo, along with his brother Ivan and Paolo's son... Read More

Since their founding in 1970, Ronchi di Cialla has emerged as one the most unique and underrated wine estates in Italy. Situated on a limestone-rich hillside, Paolo, along with his brother Ivan and Paolo's son Iacopo, make wines deeply rooted in local tradition. Whereas many of their neighbors work with grapes like Merlot and Chardonnay in styles tuned to international trends, from the start they decided to dedicate themselves to cultivating historic local varieties like Picolit, Refosco and Schioppettino, the latter of which had been marked as “extinct” by the Italian wine authorities (the Rapuzzis had to petition the government just to be allowed to legally plant it). Their intricate, delicious wines immediately garnered local attention and they were recognized for the singularity of their project with their own monopole sub-appellation: Collio-Orientali del Friuli-Cialla
 
In the vineyards, they're strictly natural with a particular emphasis on biodiversity. In the cellar, they work as gently as possible and eschew the shaping influence of new wood in favor of stainless steel, concrete, and neutral barrels. The wines have vibrance and clarity with beguiling tension between rusticity and elegance.

Ronchi di Cialla has developed a committed following amongst wine professionals and tuned-in enthusiasts alike yet they remain under the radar. Prices are very friendly and the wines age beautifully.