Questo vino
Vineyard and terroir
The fruit comes from Azienda Agricola Zidarich’s own vineyards in the municipalities of Duino and Aurizina and in Loc. Prepotto and Trieste. The vines are 10–20 years old and grow at 260–280 m above sea level, with southeast exposure, on red soils rich in karst limestone. Planting density is 8,000–9,000 vines per hectare, and yields are 4–5 tonnes per hectare.
Grapes
The blend comprises 85% Merlot and 15% Terrano.
Vinification
The grapes are harvested by hand during the first ten days of October and transported to the winery in small containers. After destemming and crushing, they ferment on their skins for four weeks in open vats with natural yeasts, without temperature control and with daily punch-downs. Malolactic fermentation takes place in large oak barrels. The wine is neither stabilized nor filtered before bottling.
Ageing
The wine matures for two years in large and medium-sized Slavonian oak barrels, followed by one year in bottle. It is usually kept for a further two years in the estate’s cellars before release.
