The wine Merlot Zirlo from the Spolert winery

The Zirlo Merlot reserve from the Spolert winery is produced with 100% Merlot grapes. It is part of the winery’s reserve line; even though the label is very particular, it brings back mythological figures because this wine is truly a myth!

The estate with about 8 hectares of land is located in the historic village of Prepotto, between the Julian Prealps Natural Park and the Upper Adriatic Riviera. We are talking about the most important autochthonous vines in the Colli Orientali del Friuli, the Schioppettino di Prepotto.

The winery has a long history, but few years ago there has been a management change that led to an important shift of the style and the quality of the wines. Riccardo is the new young owner; he did not inherit the winery but he chose it with the aim of giving space to the winemaking tradition and to respect fully the expression of the territory.

The Winemaking

The winery is very attentive to to environmental impact and sustainability, the grapes are harvested manually in boxes, at the end of September. Once in the cellar, the grapes are destemmed, and only the best grapes are selected and pressed. The must is left in contact with the skins for about 20 days at a controlled temperature. After racking, it is transferred to wooden vats, where it undergoes fermentation. The refinement lasts about 18 months; 50% of the wine is in French oak barrels and the other 50% in earthenware amphorae; after blending and bottling, the wine rests for another six months in the cellar before being placed on the market.

Tasting the Merlot Zirlo by Spolert 

Intense ruby red with slight garnet reflections; the aroma is nice and refined with pleasant notes of red fruits, violets, blueberries and black currants, which leave room for balsamic and spicy notes. A soft and velvety wine on the palate, it is persistent, endowed with elegant tannins well smoothed by the amphorae.

Food Pairings

It goes well with red meat, game and hard cheeses.

THE WINERY

We are visiting Spolert in Prepotto in the north east of Friuli Venezia Giulia. A new winery that the current owner (Riccardo Caliari) and his wife bought three years ago.

Riccardo’s main objective is to enhance the native wine and the local customs; this is the reason why he chose Spolert as the name of his winery. Spolet in the Friulian tradition was the center of the kitchen used for cooking food, but also to spread heat throughout the house. When you go to visit the winery, you will find the original splert, the one that belong to the old owners; Riccardo restored it to its splendor and now it is the leading actor of the winery… go to the winery page