Friday Wine Tasting 6/26

June 26: Friuli

Come join us for a fabulous afternoon of wine tasting at The San Francisco Wine Trading Company! Whether you're a wine connoisseur or just looking to have a good time, this event is perfect for you. Sample a variety of exquisite wines and mingle with fellow wine enthusiasts. Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to expand your palate and enjoy some delicious wines. See you there!

2025 Emilio Bulfon Sciaglin $26.94
Emilio Bulfon is located in western Friuli and is renowned for rediscovering, preserving, and revitalizing ancient indigenous grape varieties that were nearly lost to history. One of the estate’s most notable successes is Sciaglin, a rare local white grape known for its bright citrus character, vibrant acidity, and pronounced minerality. Through decades of research and propagation, Bulfon helped bring the variety back into commercial production. This wine is fermented entirely in stainless steel to preserve its freshness and purity, resulting in a delicate, crisp, and floral expression.

2020 Zidarich Kamen Vitovska Bianco $69.94
Benjamin Zidarich is one of the leading voices of the Carso region, a rugged limestone plateau that straddles the border of Italy and Slovenia. Since taking over the family estate in 1988 with just one hectare of vines, he has expanded the property to eight hectares, all farmed biodynamically. The vineyards are rooted in the region’s distinctive iron- and calcium-rich red soils that extend deep into the limestone bedrock below. Zidarich focuses primarily on Vitovska, the indigenous white grape of the Carso. The special Kamen bottling was created to deepen the connection between the region’s limestone terroir and the winemaking process. The wine is fermented and macerated for approximately 18 days in custom-built stone vats carved from the same limestone found beneath the vineyards. After fermentation, it ages for two years in oak barrels, producing a textured, mineral-driven expression of the region.

2023 Cabert Franconia Viola $17.94

Cabert is a cooperative founded in 1960 in the heart of Friuli, bringing together local growers with a shared commitment to preserving the region’s winemaking traditions. Over the decades, the cooperative has become known for producing approachable, terroir-driven wines that showcase both international and indigenous varieties grown throughout Friuli.

This wine is made from 100% Franconia, the Italian synonym for Blaufränkisch, a variety more commonly associated with neighboring Austria and Central Europe. The grapes are destemmed and fermented in stainless steel, then aged in stainless steel to preserve freshness and varietal character. The resulting wine is medium-bodied and vibrant, offering floral aromas, red berry fruit, subtle spice, and mineral notes. At just 12.5% alcohol, it is an easy-drinking and versatile red that pairs well with a slight chill.

2022 I Clivi Scioppettino $35.94
Scioppettino is a rare red grape most closely associated with Prepotto, a subzone of Friuli Colli Orientali DOC. Known for its medium-bodied structure and distinctive black pepper character, it thrives in the region’s famous ponca soils, a mix of marl and sandstone. I Clivi is run by Mario Zanusso, who took over the estate after his father planted vines to fulfill a lifelong dream. Mario often says the winery brought him home after years of wandering, giving him a renewed sense of place and purpose. The estate farms organically and focuses on expressing the unique character of Friuli’s indigenous varieties.

2024 Emilio Bulfon Piculit Neri $24.94
Piculit Neri is another rare indigenous variety rediscovered and revived by Emilio Bulfon. Despite the similarity in name, it is unrelated to the famous white grape Picolit. The variety is protected by regional regulations and may only be produced in the communes of Castelnuovo del Friuli and Pinzano al Tagliamento in western Friuli. The name translates roughly to “small hill,” a reference to the grape’s traditional growing area. The grapes are destemmed and fermented in stainless steel, then aged in stainless steel to preserve the variety’s aromatic freshness and vibrant fruit profile.

2019 Zidarich Teran Rosso $34.94
Zidarich’s vineyards lie in the Carso region of Friuli, where the iron-rich red clay soils and limestone bedrock create one of Europe’s most distinctive terroirs. Teran is an ancient variety that has been cultivated here since Roman times and remains a symbol of the region’s cultural identity. Traditionally, the wine was given to women after childbirth because of its naturally high iron content. Rich in color and naturally vibrant in acidity, it produces wines of freshness, structure, and energy. This bottling is aged exclusively in Slavonian oak, allowing the wine’s earthy minerality and distinctive regional character to shine through.