Ronchi di Cialla

The Rapuzzi family founded the estate in 1970 in the small Cialla valley, restoring local vineyards and helping to save Schioppettino when the variety was nearly lost. In the 1970s and 1980s the winery perfected the recovery of vine cuttings, produced the first vintages of Schioppettino and received recognition that brought Cialla’s wines to international auctions. The denomination and boundaries of the Cialla cru were officially established by ministerial acts and regulations in subsequent years, consolidating the estate’s reputation as a custodian of Friulian indigenous varieties.

The estate works exclusively with native grape varieties, favoring controlled yields, selective harvesting and minimal agronomic interventions. In the cellar, winemaking is kept as natural as possible and wines undergo extended ageing — including in wood — to achieve long-lived wines with a strong expression of terroir. Biodiversity protection and low-impact practices are integral to the production method.

The winery is located in the Cialla valley, a small hilly amphitheatre overlooking the Colli Orientali del Friuli, characterized by a tempered microclimate between the Adriatic Sea and the Julian Alps and by marly, well-stratified soils that favor the cultivation of local indigenous varieties. The area is officially recognized as the cru CIALLA for certain traditional varieties.

Risit d'Aur for the revival of Schioppettino; 'Biodiversity Friendly' certification; some historic vintages auctioned by Christie's.