Schiopetto

The Schiopetto winery was founded by Mario Schiopetto in the Collio DOC zone of Friuli-Venezia Giulia in the 1960s. Mario Schiopetto is widely credited with revolutionizing Italian white wine production by introducing temperature-controlled fermentation and early harvesting techniques he learned from studying winemaking in Germany.

Schiopetto focuses on white varieties characteristic of the Collio DOC, including Friulano, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, and Ribolla Gialla, along with smaller quantities of red wines from varieties such as Cabernet Franc and Merlot. The estate's vineyards sit on the area's distinctive ponca soil, a marl and sandstone composition that contributes pronounced minerality to the wines.

Mario Schiopetto introduced temperature-controlled stainless steel fermentation, early morning harvesting to preserve grape freshness, and gentle pressing to Italian white wine production in the 1960s. These innovations helped shift Friuli's white wines from previously oxidized, heavy styles toward the crisp, aromatic profiles that the region is now internationally known for.

The winery is located in Capriva del Friuli in the Collio Goriziano DOC zone of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, in northeastern Italy near the border with Slovenia. This area is one of Italy's premier white wine regions, characterized by rolling hills and a climate influenced by both the Alps and the Adriatic Sea.