The Scarbolo estate in Lauzacco is located only 15 km from the Italian border with Slovenia. Nine separate vineyards, comprising 18 hectares, are planted to local Friulian varieties. A tremendous amount of work is being done to better understand the ‘terroirs’ and what the different vineyard sites can produce. Additionally, climate change is slowly modifying the normal cycles of the vine and the team, while in conversion to certified organic viticulture, is committed to pursuing vineyard management that promotes ever lower intervention, facilitating as much as possible a self-sustaining ecosystem. This continued research into the vineyards and their management has led the new generation of the Scarbolo family to double-down their focus and efforts on an ‘underdog’ and their favourite cultivar, Pinot Grigio. Much maligned because of the mass production seen around the world, in the hands of dedicated and focused viticulture and winemaking, this is a grape that can truly express its versatility and texture nowhere better than Friuli. As famed wine journalist, Jancis Robinson notes:

‘That there is a way out of this dead-end track [referring to a lack of identity for the region] is confidently shown by Mattia Scarbolo who apparently thinks nothing of putting three radically different interpretations of Pinot Grigio on the market.’ (JR 4/1/22)

The Scarbolo estate is now in the hands of the 3^rd generation, Lara (winemaker and viticulturist) and Mattia (sales and marketing) sister and brother. Their father, Valter and mother, Maria Grazia, are still very much involved. Valter, who’s focus is now on the vineyards and viticulture and who leans on his 50 years of experience working the land, took over the estate from his father and there is obvious pride when you speak with him about Lara and Mattia’s involvement.

Lara, after completing her viticulture and oenology studies, took over the winemaking full-time from her father in 2017. Mattia, after an education and career in finance, returned to the family roots with great enthusiasm and is leading the winery in the next evolution of their history.

The younger generations influence is obvious but is complimentary to the vision that Valter had pursued when he took over the estate. The vineyards have always been impeccable, with beautiful fruit producing wines of remarkable intensity and extract.

Their next chapter is to study the use of indigenous yeasts, to understand what this means to the wine and to become more focused on what the region produces best. The future is very bright for this impressively forward-thinking family.

scarbolo.com