estate bottled wines

ESTATE BOTTLED WINES
COLLI ORIENTALI DEL FRIULI
estate bottled wines
The Rodaro vineyards,
a stupendous Vineyard-Garden
in the Colli Orientali del Friuli
The estate vineyards of Rodaro Winery, on the Colli Orientali
del Friuli. Among the vineyards, Villa Romano is a venerable
dot of pink that enfolds within its walls the red heart
of the “Romain” Limited Editions of Paolo Rodaro.
One’s gaze first rests on the stepped and terraced vineyards, then rises to the woods that reach up to touch
the sky, to then return to the vine-rows caressing the horizon. This is a landscape shaped by the hand of man,
which with exquisite respect has given these hills their gentle fabric in order to enjoy to the fullest the fruits
of mother earth. The area known as the Friuli Colli Orientali lies, as the crow flies, 50 km from the Alps and
an equal distance from the Adriatic Sea, a jewel all but unknown to mass tourism, enfolding unexpected
and breath-taking beauty.
The hills roll sinuously, just a step from the border with Slovenia. The local soils, called ponca, are composed
of Eocene marl and sandstone (Flysch) and represent the area’s true treasure, for they imprint the wines of
Colli Orientali del Friuli and of Collio with a matchless sapidity, and for that reason this has been a prized
viticultural area stretching back into Roman times. The Rodaro vineyards thus enjoy a nonpareil growing
area, ideal exposure, and a special climate, all the gift of a beneficent nature. This is the Pre-Alps, and the
vineyards are predominantly cultivated on the Friuli Colli Orientali hillslopes, with some on the plains or on
low hills dedicated to experimentation.
The Rodaro winery dedicates 57 of its 135 hectares to vineyards, half white grapes and half red. Yields
are deliberately kept low and the grapes are harvested exclusively by hand. The sustainability, research, and
love for one’s work are the signposts for achieving growth in quality production, from the vineyard through
every step of winemaking.
Villa Romano, 17th cent., the centre of the winery, where time has stopped. Inside is the room painted by Jàcun Pitôr
(Giacomo Meneghini 1851-1935), which can by visited by reservation.
Paolo Rodaro Winery
23 March 1846 is the official date of the gift to Giacomo Rodaro of a property cultivated by the members of
his family, a date that is considered the founding date of the winery as well, in an era when the Austro-Hungarian
Empire still ruled the area. Friuli-Venezia Giulia, a border area where peoples and cultures have always mixed,
thus saw the birth of the Rodaro Winery.
Today, Paolo Rodaro, the sixth generation of this winegrowing family, directs the winery with commitment
and imagination. Its 57 hectares of estate vineyards yield just 250,000 bottles of prized wines. On the terraces
that shape the contours of the most striking of the Colli Orientali del Friuli, Paolo continues to research new
methods of sustainable viticulture in order to reduce use of chemical treatments in the vineyards. The climate
has been changing, and the Colli Orientali, always famed for its production of white wines, has now proved to
be adept at making high-quality reds as well. Paolo, an eternally-curious winemaker and traveller, has participated in many research projects in Friuli-Venezia Giulia aimed at encouraging the diffusion of native grapes,
Picolit, Schioppettino, Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso, and Pignolo, all of which yield wines whose production
is demanding, but with tremendously appealing characteristics. In addition, Paolo’s creativity and love for France
inspired him to extend his efforts on new directions, hence his Classic Method Pas Dosé.
His eye remains fixed on the future, from his vineyards to his wine-cellar.
The winery’s centre and technological heart is located in the old Rodaro family farm residence. Here the
hand-harvested grapes are vinified, and here Paolo carries out his experimentation to develop even further the
evolution potential of his wines. Visitors are welcome to reserve guided tours and tastings of this historic facility.
Villa Romano Rodaro is yet another residence, surrounded by vineyards, where time has stopped. It houses
the barricaia, where the noble red wines of the Romain line rest in their casks and acquire longevity. Constructed in the 17th century and purchased by the Rodaro family in 2002, it is the most enchanting complex
of the winery, surrounded by 35 hectares of estate vineyards. It also boasts the naïf paintings of Jàcun Pitôr
(Giacomo Meneghini 1851-1935), a peripatetic artist who decorated residences, inns, or churches in exchange
for hospitality and lodging; here he left the physical souvenirs of his stay. The room, preceding the barrel room,
is protected from light and therefore well preserved, and it constitutes a unique example of that painter’s oeuvre.
Visits are by prior reservation only.
Friuli Venezia Giulia
AUSTRIA
FRIULI
VENEZIA
GIULIA
COLLI
ORIENTALI
SLOVENIA
Friuli, which borders on
Austria, Slovenia and
the Veneto, represents
a wealth of utterly
fascinating natural and
historical beauty. The
Colli Orientali’s gentlyrolling hills are known
the world over for their
great white wines, and
today they have gained
a reputation too for their
surprising reds.
Paolo Rodaro in the barricaia of Villa Romano Rodaro, where the superb Rodaro Romain red wines slowly mature.
THE FLOWER LABEL
limited editions
MÉTHODE CHAMPENOISE
CLASSIC WINES
THE QUEST OF EVOLUTION
pas dosÉ
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Ribolla Gialla DOP (A) Pinot Grigio DOP
Friulano DOP (A)
Chardonnay DOP
Malvasia DOP (A)
Sauvignon DOP
✓
✓
✓
Cabernet Franc DOP
Merlot DOP
Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso DOP (A)
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
ROMAIN LABEL
NUOVE PROPOSTE • NEW
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Merlot Romain** DOP
Schioppettino Romain** DOP (A)
Cabernet Sauvignon Romain** DOP
Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso Romain** DOP (A)
Pignolo Romain** DOP (A)
Il Metodo Classico Brut Nature (Pas Dosé)
✓
L’Evoluto Sauvignon IGP (40 mesi • 40 months)
sur lie
✓
✓
Dessert Wine
✓
French Oak
Verduzzo Friulano * DOP (A)
Stainless steel DOP: Friuli Colli Orientali Protected Designation of Origin
✓
✓
Il Metodo Classico Rosé (Pas Dosé)
INTERNATIONAL VINES
The careful selection of grapes from the international vines
of the Rodaro estate give back the two visions
of Paolo Rodaro’s Méthode Champenoise.
Pas Dosé interpretations that want to enhance the accurate
vinification and the magic of the perlage in the bottle. ©
Dessert Wines
✓
✓
Picolit** DOCG (A)
Pra Zenar** DOP (Verduzzo Friulano) (A)
DOCG: Colli Orientali del Friuli Controlled and Guaranteed Designation of Origin IGP: Venezia Giulia Protected Geographical Indication (A) Native variety
* Dried on vine
** Dried on vine and in boxes
ecnis
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Classic Flower Label
6481
Rodaro White Wines, the Flower Label
Classic Wines, Vinified in accord with Tradition
The Orange Flower adorns the labels of wines made through the traditional vinification process and symbolises
a reflection on the relationship between man and nature. Orange is a vibrant colour, bursting with energy, and
represents the spirit of the Rodaros, with their positive outlook with respect to life and new markets. But the
flower also hints at a message; in a veiled manner, and in its simplicity, it suggests the importance of respect
for the environment, a crucial sentiment for those who work the earth and gather its fruits. Man’s intervention,
in fact, should observe a code of ethics for respecting present and future generations….
Further, in the era of the instantaneous message, man appears at the command of the rhythms set by technology. Quick times, ever-faster speeds seem to promise the pathway to happiness. Lives are channelled by
strategies and goals to achieve: it is the Age of Immediate Action. The winery of Paolo Rodaro, with its flower,
whispers a reflection linked to the value of time.
The inner nature of man, in order to grow and mature in tranquillity, needs to respect natural rhythms, just
as wine, to mature and evolve adequately, requires time. TO BE rather than TO SEEM.
The Rodaro Orange Flower represents the life-force of nature, purity and simplicity. With a fragility that
is only apparent, it breaks through asphalt and enables life to conquer. Man, like wine, should remain in
harmony with natural cycles, just as simply as a flower.
Ribolla Gialla
Pinot Grigio
Friulano
The Rodaro Orange Flower identifies the wines made through the traditional vinification process: the
grapes are quality-selected and picked by hand, the clusters are gently pressed, and the must fermented in
steel tanks. These are youthful wines, crisp and fresh, with a marked tanginess that is the gift of the local ponca
(flysch) soils, the terroir characteristic of the Colli Orientali del Friuli and a priceless gift to the growing area
so celebrated from antiquity forwards.
The standard dry white wines showcase the bouquet classic to their grape varieties. Clean and fresh, these
wines are unmistakable in the nuances they convey. It is fascinating to taste all of the grape varieties that
grow in the same soil; it reveals how different grapes can transmit such diverse sensory experiences. These
wines can certainly be enjoyed in successive years as well, since if the wines are cellared well, they acquire
complexity and become more intriguing.
The wines from native grapes are impressive. Ribolla Gialla is a straightforward, low-alcohol wine that
caresses the palate, a delicious quaffer whose crisp acidity and fresh florality makes it the perfect partner to
light dishes of poached fish or sushi.
Rodaro’s exuberant, highly-respected Friulano—previously known as Tocai—is a more firmly-structured,
terroir-driven white with a touch of bitterish almond on the finish. It will surprise you as a fine aperitif wine,
and it is a seductive partner to San Daniele prosciutto and medium-aged cheeses. Malvasia (Istriana), known
for its outstanding cellarability, shows fine spice, summer fruit, and geranium leaf on both nose and palate,
along with intriguing hints of citrus and apricot, making it a fine accompaniment to risotto with saffron, fish,
and Asian dishes. The wines from international varieties are no less outstanding: a long-lingering Pinot Grigio,
a tropically-infused Chardonnay, and a fragrant Sauvignon. All of these whites are vinified in steel.
“The flower is there to maintain my promise...”
Paolo Rodaro
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Sauvignon
ecnis
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Classic Flower Label
6481
Rodaro Red Wines, the Flower Label
Classic Wines, Vinified in accord with Tradition
The Cabernet Franc appears an intense ruby, with purplish highlights. The nose is marked by undertones of
ripe fruit and an herbaceousness that carries over onto a palate noteworthy for its firm structure and lengthy
progression. It is fermented in steel with a 10-day maceration, to optimise its colour and to preserve all
the sensory qualities of the palate. Cabernet Franc is one of Friuli-Venezia Giulia’s most prized wines. The
grape, introduced in the late 1800s, was a favourite of the region’s grape-growers, since it is heavy-bearing,
early-ripening, and develops high sugar levels. The wine became popular for its smoothness and delicious
quaffability, with one sip inviting another, and another. It partners well with cheeses aged with vegetables,
with pancetta, and grilled lighter meats.
Fermentation in steel and maturation in large French oak ovals characterise the vinification of the Merlot.
An intense ruby in appearance, it vaunts a rich personality, fragrant with Morello cherry and wild blackberry.
Only lightly tannic, it develops impressions of tar and tobacco leaf with ageing. It is perfect with young and
medium-aged fatty cheeses, and with rabbit and hare. The Merlot grape arrived in in Friuli-Venezia Giulia in
the late 1800s, then spread into the other areas of northern Italy.
Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso is a native wine, mentioned in 1390 in the “Friuli Annals” and one of significant allure. Fermentation in steel and maturation in small French oak casks yield a rich-ruby red that is
full-volumed and long-lingering, with densely-woven tannins interleaved with spice, blackberry, dark berry,
and black cherry. Its exceptional qualities are not yet widely known, but its eloquent vitality and intense
aromatics make it a superb partner with game and hearty meats, roasts, and medium- and long-aged cheeses.
Cabernet
Franc
Merlot
Refosco dal
Peduncolo Rosso
Rodaro Sweet Wine, the Flower Label
The Traditional Verduzzo Friulano
Verduzzo Friulano di Rodaro is a native wine made from the Verduzzo Giallo, a grape cultivated in
Friuli long before the spread of the Romans, indicated by excavations that revealed grape seeds dating
back to the Neolithic. Cornelio Frangipane (1508-1588), a poet and humanist from Tarcento, described
how “one descends from the harsh mountains to the green, vineyard-clad hills that yield golden, sweet
wines.” The Verduzzo clusters are small, winged, and pyramid-shaped, the berries pulpy and aromatic.
In the area of Ramandolo, a hill lying in the centre of the Colli Orientali del Friuli, northeast of Udine,
the grape is known as Ramandolo.
Rodaro’s Verduzzo grapes are harvested late in the season and are allowed to lightly dry on the vine.
For this version of Verduzzo Friulano, the must is fermented in steel to produce a sweet, crisp, lightly
tannic wine. Appearing a gold yellow, it develops elegant fragrances of mimosa and broom blossom,
along with notes of hay, camomile, sweet violets, acacia honey, dried apricots and figs, and aromatic
herbs. The crisp palate re-presents dried apricot, green apple, candied citrus, and raisin, plus a tasty
note of pungent menthol, then progresses into a long-lingering finish with a touch of bitter almonds. It
is delicious with petits fours or served with aperitifs of young or creamy cheeses.
Rodaro’s steel tanks
The Verduzzo
in the winemaking
Friulano berries
facility
lightly dry on the
vine and the must
then ferments in
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Verduzzo
Friulano
since
Limited Edition Labels
Limited Edition Labels
since
1846
1846
Limited Editions, from naturally
semi-dried grapes
grape variety. What is decisive is the sensory examination of the berries that Paolo Rodaro performs day
after day, and that finally signals that they are ready for fermentation in steel. The wines then go to French
oak barrels, where they mature from one and a half to over three years. The process is successful only if the
fermentation yields a superb wine. This is followed by followed by ageing in the bottle, in order to impart
true elegance to the Romain wines.
The Reds of Evoluzione Romain
The Romain wines rest in large French oak barriques, caressed by the winds that waft over the Colli Orientali
del Friuli and by the gradual succession of slow-paced days, unaware of the frantic pace in the outside world.
Only in certain years is it possible to utilise the Rodaro Romain method to process the grapes, hence we
are speaking here about Limited Editions. Whenever possible, we harvest the grapes late in the season, picking the clusters by hand and placing them on small 2kg-trays. These trays are then transferred to fruttaio, or
drying loft, so that the clusters can undergo the natural process of semi-drying. As the days pass, the berries
dehydrate and their astringent, immature tannins gradually soften.
The objective is to vinify the grapes in such a way as to obtain a dry wine with great potential to age
over time, never a wine of over-facile approachability, but one whose sensory qualities will faithfully express those of its parent grape variety. Painstaking attention is focused on these first steps in the processes.
Multiple laboratory analyses are performed to ensure that there is no trace of sugar, which would render
the wine sweetish. The clusters rest in the fruttaio from two weeks to over five weeks, depending on the
Only in the finest
of growing years,
the ripe clusters are
laid into small boxes
I the drying loft for
the natural process
of semi-drying. As
the weeks pass,
the
Cantina
Rodaro Paolo, via Cormòns 60,
Spessa
(Cividale del Friuli) 33043 Udine, Italy
berries lose
water
Tel/Fax: +39 0432 716066 Email: [email protected]
and the tannins
Merlot
Schioppettino
www.rodaropaolo.it
Romain
Romain
soften.
Cabernet
Sauvignon
Romain
The Romain wines are monovarietal reds. They are long-lingering, complex, and full-bodied, and although
the semi-dried grapes yield a higher alcohol level, they exhibit a very obvious harmony and elegance on
both nose and palate. They convey a truly unique emotional experience; even those not used to such wines
will appreciate these wines that are unique for their superlative terroir and for their nonpareil quality.
Schioppettino Romain (Ribolla Nera), the least tannic, stands out for its spiciness, black pepper, blueberry,
and raspberry. Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso Romain, this version one of Rodaro’s iconic wines, is a noble
wine boasting evolved characteristics of forest floor, ripe red berry, moist wood, and truffle. Pignolo is a rare
grape that yields a tannin-forward wine fragrant with semi-sweet chocolate, generously-ripe red berry, Morello
cherry, and forest floor; further ageing with bring with it a delicious spiciness. The sought-after international
wines include the elegant Merlot Romain, marked by red berryfruit and vanilla, and Cabernet Sauvignon
Romain, delicately tannic, fruit-rich, spicy, and velvet smooth. Unforgettable wines.
Those who were fortunate to acquire preceding vintages may either enjoy them now or store them longer,
always keeping the bottles horizontal and away from light; these wines will continue to mature for 20, 25,
and more years. In Friuli, too, experimentation can bring wines that are noble in quality and of the highest
international reputation.
Refosco dal
Peduncolo Rosso
Romain
Pignolo
Romain
Rodaros’s most prestigious wines, Romain
and Limited Editions, are adorned with this
symbol, which represents the gate of the
Rodaro residence. Giulia, Paolo’s daughter,
made the sketch when she was only 5
years old. In the Romain wines, love takes
root in the vineyard, flows through the
winemaking process to take its place within
the bottle, and becomes its very label. Love
in every sip…
A fair obsession, the Evoluto label
The White, Limited Edition Sur Lie
The evolution of wines is a subject of great interest for Paolo. The ponca soils of the Colli Orientali and
the local climate give the wines their classic minerality, a superb acidity, lengthy progression, and longevity.
Thus, even the Rodaro white wines, fermented according to tradition in steel, exhibit a pronounced ability
to evolve and develop over the years.
But how can one achieve the highest level of expressivity in the Colli Orientali white wines? How can one
“go beyond the traditional vinification”?
Experimentation has been carried out for years in the vineyards and in the wine-cellar; only research could
yield the discovery of one of the possible expressive modes for the whites from our hills. In fact, the international
varieties provide the necessary departure point for obtaining an emotion-laden wine with utterly distinctive
nuances and an intriguing crispness. Only certain fine growing years, through a quality-selection of the grapes,
allow the production of the Evoluto (Evolved) label. Hill-grown Sauvignon Blanc grapes are harvested by
hand and gently pressed; the must then ferments in steel and the wine rests sur lie (fine lees) for 40 days.
Bâttonage keeps the spent yeast in suspension in the wine and prevents oxidation. The primary aromas are
thus left behind, in favour of those fragrant nuances typical of the tertiary stage, ranging from minerality to
spice. Sauvignon Evoluto 2011 thus exhibits an incredible crispness and length, Bottled in 2015.
Production: L’Evoluto 2010 (Sauvignon, bottled 2014 – 40 months sur lie)
International. Very limited production.
L’Evoluto 2011
Quality-selection and hand-harvesting in the Colli Orientali del Friuli
Limited Editions
Native Sweet Wines, natural semi-drying of the grapes
Kracker, famed Austrian producer of great sweet wines, in particular Eiswein, regarded Rodaro’ Picolit as the
benchmark among Friuli sweet wines. Honoured by this tribute, Paolo persevered on the path of experimentation, trying various methods of drying (appassimento) and fermentations in both steel and small casks. Today, the
most appropriate path, in the most favourable growing seasons, seems to be that of waiting for the appearance
of Botrytis Nobilis before late harvesting, then drying the loose clusters in small boxes and fermenting in steel.
Picolit is a vino da meditazione, a wine to be slowly sipped. Savour it with foie gras, blue cheeses such as Stilton
or Roquefort, or with long-aged cheeses.
The Rodaro family has contributed to the preservation of the Picolit grape, in particular through its discovery in
the early 1900s of 21 vines planted on their own roots, which furnished the material for the 2 hectares of Picolit
vines today. The secrets involved in the appassimento process are on full display in Pra Zenar as well, a Verduzzo
Friulano passito whose grapes are semi-dried both on the vine and in small boxes. This wine is a highly-regarded,
intense interpretation of this native grape, displaying a rich, but never cloying sweetness. Full-bodied and selfconfident, with the tough of tannin classic to the variety, Pra Zenar is a delicious partner to mascarpone-filled
sweets, and it is truly sublime with prosciutto and figs, foie gras, and squash gnocchi. Vinified only in steel.
Pra Zenar
(Verduzzo Friulano)
Picolit
The merits of Rodaro’s Picolit
DOCG have been recognised
Fortnum and Mason, the famous
shop founded in 1707 and official
supplier to the English Royal Court.
It selected among its partners
the Paolo Rodaro Winery as
official supplier of Picolit for its
Piccadilly shop. That selection
followed several years of rigorous
tastings by F&M’s tasting panel,
which approved a partnership
with the winery. In November
of every year, the Paolo Rodaro
Winery is invited to London for the
“Fortnum’s Christmas Tasting,” an
exclusive event offering the ultraprestigious F&M products.
Picolit
“Always and only Classic Method, made from international
varieties and exclusively Pas Dosé”.
Paolo Rodaro
Rodaro is Pas Dosé
Champagne-styles by Paolo Rodaro
His dream took shape as a concrete project in 2004. The hill was re-sculpted, creating terraces planted
with Pinot Noir vines, which then received obsessive attention, to make his Classic Method.
Just a handful of clusters per vine, from that hillslope Pinot Noir, went into the first vintage, 2011, of Millesimato Pas Dosé (no dosage) in very limited quantity. This Champagne Method emerges from Eocene marl
and sandstone, in soils known locally as ponca, that give it its unique structure. Those clusters are gently
pressed, and the free-run must, fermented and matured in steel, gives the wine its alluring onion-skin hue.
Rosé Nature Rodaro boasts an elegant bead of pin-point bubbles, and wild red berryfruit and cream on
the nose, which return seductively on the palate. Dry, yet velvety, fruit of its natural glycerine, it presents a
delicious vein of crisp acidity, making this complex wine a perfect partner to every dish in a meal.
The 2013 vintage of Rosè Nature Millesimato Pas Dosé, with a 30-month maturation sur lie in steel, will
be available in 2017. Bottles can be reserved at the disgorgement stage, in November 2016.
Brut Nature (blend), Paolo Rodaro’s Blanc de Blanc, is available in 2016 for the first time on the market.
After 20 months sur lie in steel and cracklingly crisp, it is this Pas Dosé style that truly reveals the innate
quality of a sparkling wine. It makes a lovely aperitif wine for convivial gatherings of friends who love easy
drinkability, marked by that vein of tasty minerality that distinguishes the Rodaro wines.
Experimentation always makes us eve more curious. Would you like the idea of accompanying us on that
journey?
Rosé Nature:
Paolo Rodaro Metodo Classico, Pas Dosé Millesimato 2011
Paolo Rodaro Metodo Classico, Pas Dosé Millesimato 2012
Brut Nature
Rosé Nature
1,5 l / 0,75 l / 0,375 l
1,5 l / 0,75 l / 0,375 l
Manual harvesting
Natural semi-drying of the Romain Wines
Wine-cellar, barricaia (barriques room)
Paolo Rodaro and Pas Dosé
Wine-cellar, stainless-steel tank room
Villa Romano Rodaro
Appassimento of native sweet grapes
Vineyards
Enjoy life with Rodaro ; )
ESTATE BOTTLED WINES
Rodaro Paolo Winery
Via Cormòns n. 60 Località Spessa | 33043 Cividale del Friuli | Udine | Italy
T/F +39 0432 716066 | M: [email protected] | PEC: [email protected]
www.rodaropaolo.it
Winery Owner: Paolo Rodaro
General Manager: Lara Boldarino [email protected]
Winery Administration & Logistics:
Claudia e Francesco Conchione [email protected]
Opening hours: Lun-Sab 9-12 e 14-18
BOOK YOUR VISIT NOW
CAMPAGNA FINANZIATA AI SENSI DEL REGOLAMENTO CE N. 1308/13 | Campaign financed according to (EC) Regulation no. 1308/2013