Merlot – Colli Orientali del Friuli – La Luna Storta – 2023

The Merlot of the La Luna Storta winery

The Merlot of the La Luna Storta winery. Produced with 100% Merlot grapes. La Luna Storta winery is located in the middle of a puzzle of vines and fields,  south of Cividale del Friuli. The Colli Orientali del Friuli are wonderful hills that the locals have transformed into terraces over the years. These soils made of “ponca” marl, are rich in mineral salts and, also thanks to the sea breeze and the winds from the north, give longevity and structure to  the wines. La Luna Storta winery is located on top of these hills; here Beatrice Pascolini who inherited this wonderful reality from her father runs the business with the help of her husband Loris.

The family has chosen a sustainable and careful viticulture, in full respect of climate change, allowing the needed time to the wine to mature. The company mascot is called Schioppettino a nice cat who approached the vineyards during the harvest of the Schioppettino grapes… guess where he got his name from…

THE WINEMAKING

The grape harvest is strictly manual and takes place between the end of September and the beginning of October. After fermentation and maceration in steel tanks, the wine ages in barriques for 18-24 months.

Tasting the wine by La Luna Storta

Ruby red with light garnet reflections. The aroma is intense, fine and slightly spicy; the fruity notes lead to red berries like blackberries, raspberries, currants. Closing with balsamic notes can be found after a lovely oregano puff. Full-bodied and harmonious on the palate, the tannins are silky and the finish is long and persistent.

FOOD PAIRINGS

It goes well with red meats, hard cheeses and game; but also with the traditional main courses of the cuisine from Friuli. Try it with jugged hare.

THE WINERY

We are south of Cividale in the north east of Friuli Venezia Giulia. The La Luna Storta winery was founded in the 70s by Beatrice Pascolini’s grandad who, in addition to the vineyard and the production of the wines, also managed a small bad and breakfast. A few years ago, Beatrice and her family decide to leave their busy life and the office work to carry on her father’s legacy…. go to the winery page