Zorzettig Cabernet Sauvignon

A familiar grape with a distinctly Friulian accent.
Cabernet Sauvignon needs little introduction. From Bordeaux to California, Chile to Australia, it has become one of the world's great wine grapes. But give it a new landscape and it starts telling a different story. In the hills of Friuli, close to the Slovenian border and within sight of the Alps, Zorzettig gives Cabernet Sauvignon a distinctly local expression — structured and generous, but lifted by the freshness and elegance that define the wines of this corner of northeastern Italy.

The vineyards are part of the Zorzettig estate around Casali Pasch, where international varieties such as Cabernet are grown alongside Friuli's indigenous grapes. This is an unusually interesting place for a Cabernet vineyard: the Julian Alps protect the hills from cold northeasterly winds, while milder air moves up from the Adriatic. Beneath the vines, the region's characteristic ponca soils of marl and sandstone add another layer to the landscape.

In the glass, the grape is recognisable, but the accent has changed. Blackberry, plum and strawberry bring the familiar Cabernet fruit profile, while tobacco, spice and hints of ripe, liqueur-like fruit add depth. There is structure here, but Zorzettig's philosophy is not about making a massive, oak-heavy Cabernet; the winery places considerable emphasis on preserving fruit, freshness and elegance. For wine drinkers in Ireland who know Cabernet Sauvignon well, this is an opportunity to revisit it from a completely different direction — not Bordeaux, not California, but Friuli.

Why we love it:
There is something particularly enjoyable about taking a grape as familiar as Cabernet Sauvignon and discovering how much its surroundings can change its personality. Zorzettig's version has the dark fruit and structure Cabernet drinkers expect, but the Friulian setting brings a fresher, more elegant feel that makes the wine considerably more distinctive than the name alone might suggest.