Venica & Venica 2020 Schioppettino Friuli Colli Orientali DOC 750ml

Schioppettino is a genuinely rare and historically significant native Friulian grape — the name is believed to derive from the Italian word for gunshot, "schioppo," either a reference to the pop of the grape skin when bitten or the way fermentation can sound audibly explosive. The variety nearly disappeared entirely following phylloxera in the late 19th century, when Italian authorities briefly outlawed unclassified grape varieties, and it survived mainly thanks to small plantings preserved specifically in Prepotto, within the Colli Orientali del Friuli. Venica & Venica is a genuine family winery, run across generations since 1930, based in Dolegna del Collio in Friuli-Venezia Giulia — a house best known for its acclaimed white wines, with roughly 85% of its vineyard holdings planted to white varieties, making this Schioppettino a genuine, distinctive departure into Friuli's own native red wine tradition.

Grapes for the 2020 vintage were hand-picked, allowed a slight degree of over-ripening depending on the season's own climatic conditions, before fermenting in stainless steel and aging a full 12 months in large oak casks — a deliberately gentle aging regime built to preserve real fruit purity rather than dominate it with oak. Bottled at 13% ABV, with a genuinely remarkable aging potential exceeding 20 years.

Venica's own official tasting notes describe a color "more or less intense ruby red, with evident violet notes that tend to decrease with aging," the aromas ranging "from berry fruit (wild blackberry, raspberry, blueberry) to sour cherries, spicy notes of black pepper, mint, cocoa, licorice, tobacco and vanilla, with different intensities according to aging." On the palate: "dry, soft and round, with a great full body," a "fresh-savory vibration" supporting "well-integrated, velvety and pleasant tannins," the flavors "consistently" recalling "the aromas, from small red and black fruit to spicy notes, with a persistent finish enriched with herbaceous and green pepper nuances." Wine-Searcher's aggregated critic notes for an adjacent vintage describe "candied orange zest, fresh wildflowers and crushed rock" leaping "from the glass." This is genuinely distinctive, historically significant Italian red — a real rarity from one of the Collio's most respected family estates, built for serious long-term cellaring.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Venica & Venica 2020 Schioppettino Friuli Colli Orientali DOC is produced by Venica & Venica, a family estate run across generations since 1930, based in Dolegna del Collio, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy. The wine is made entirely from Schioppettino, a rare native Friulian grape, hand-harvested at the end of September.

Following harvest, the wine ferments in stainless steel and ages 12 months in large oak casks. Bottled at 13% ABV, 750ml, with an aging potential exceeding 20 years.

Critics Reviews

No independently confirmed critic score is available for the 2020 vintage specifically at this time.

Venica & Venica (official tasting note):
"Color: More or less intense ruby red, with evident violet notes that tend to decrease with aging. Nose: The aromas of this wine range from berry fruit (wild blackberry, raspberry, blueberry) to sour cherries, spicy notes of black pepper, mint, cocoa, licorice, tobacco and vanilla, with different intensities according to aging. Palate: On the palate it's dry, soft and round, with a great full body. There is fresh-savory vibration that supports well-integrated, velvety and pleasant tannins. The flavours consistently recall the aromas, from small red and black fruit to spicy notes, with a persistent finish enriched with herbaceous and green pepper nuances."

For house-style context, Wine-Searcher's aggregated critic data for an adjacent vintage notes: "Candied orange zest, fresh wildflowers and crushed rock leap from the glass..."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Intense ruby red with violet notes. Wild blackberry, raspberry, and blueberry lead, joined by sour cherry, alongside black pepper, mint, cocoa, licorice, tobacco, and vanilla.

Palate
Dry, soft, and round, with great full body, carrying small red and black fruit and spicy character, framed by well-integrated, velvety tannin.

Finish
Persistent, closing with herbaceous and green pepper nuances — genuinely built for extended cellaring.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

• Grilled or roasted red meat
• Game
• Aged, hard cheeses
• Rich, savory braises

Serving Note

Serve at 18-20°C.