Wine from Land That Was Once Sea
Sassocorno is a natural wine project founded in 2017 by four friends — Stefano Poser, Diego Tomasella, Francesca Ius, and Loretta Silvestrini — who chose to leave diverse professional backgrounds behind and establish a winery in the hilly area of eastern Friuli, between Rosazzo and Rocca Bernarda. [^2^] They did not inherit this land; they fell in love with it. Their mission is to create wines that authentically express the local terroir, focusing on sustainability, respect for nature, and the preservation of biodiversity. [^7^] The name Sassocorno — "stone horn" — evokes the ancient, rocky soils of a territory that was once beneath the sea, where every stone and vine tells a story of deep time.
A Choice, Not an Inheritance — Four Friends, One Vision
The story of Sassocorno begins not with inheritance, but with a deliberate choice. The four founders — Stefano Poser, Diego Tomasella, Francesca Ius, and Loretta Silvestrini — did not grow up on this land, nor did they receive it from previous generations. They discovered it, fell in love with it, and chose to build their lives around it. [^5^] This act of conscious selection defines everything that follows: every vine planted, every wine made, every bottle filled is the result of a decision to respect and enhance a territory they chose to call home.
The winery is located in Corno di Rosazzo, in the hilly area of eastern Friuli-Venezia Giulia, midway between the Adriatic Sea and the Carnic Alps. [^7^] This is a landscape of extraordinary biodiversity, where forests, meadows, vineyards, and arable fields alternate in a mosaic of colours and scents. The wildlife finds an ideal habitat here, and the Sassocorno team is committed to preserving it. The vineyards are managed to enhance biodiversity, including the introduction of bees to aid in pollination and increase the ecosystem's resilience. [^2^]
The soil tells an ancient story. The land that is now vineyard was once sea, and the rocky, mineral-rich soils retain the memory of that submerged past. The founders chose to work with this history rather than against it, selecting native grape varieties that have adapted to these specific conditions over centuries and employing farming practices that maintain organic matter and promote the presence of beneficial insects and spontaneous flora. [^5^]
"Pure expression of land that was once sea."
— Sassocorno Philosophy
Certified Organic, Biodiversity First & Indigenous Varieties
Sassocorno operates with a certified organic commitment, avoiding the use of chemicals and synthetic fertilisers in both vineyard and cellar. [^2^] The team has chosen to preserve nature's biodiversity, to enhance the territory, and to create wines that are the pure expression of the terroir. [^7^] This is not a marketing position but a lived reality: the vineyards are managed according to criteria oriented towards the maintenance of organic matter, and ripe grapes are harvested manually by individual parcels, ensuring that each vineyard block is picked at its optimal moment.
The estate is situated in a region of high wine vocation, where the interplay of Adriatic influence and Alpine coolness creates an ideal environment for cultivating native grape varieties. [^2^] The soils are rocky and mineral-rich, a legacy of the area's ancient seabed origins, providing both drainage and a distinctive saline minerality that characterises the wines. The founders have introduced bees into the ecosystem — precious allies that contribute to pollination and increase biodiversity — reflecting a holistic understanding of viticulture as one thread in a larger ecological fabric. [^7^]
Sassocorno cultivates a focused palette of indigenous and historical varieties: Malvasia Istriana, Tocai Friulano (now Friulano), Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Schioppettino. [^2^] The emphasis is on grapes that belong to this place — varieties that have adapted to the local climate, soil, and culture over generations. Malvasia Istriana offers aromatic complexity and saline freshness. Tocai Friulano provides the mineral, almond-scented backbone that defines great Friulian white wine. Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso delivers deep colour and peppery spice. Schioppettino, a rare indigenous red, contributes wild berry notes and a distinctive black-pepper character.
Full organic farming since founding. No synthetic chemicals, no artificial fertilisers, no shortcuts. Certified organic viticulture and winemaking. [^2^]
Introduction of bees to aid pollination and increase biodiversity. Vineyards managed as part of a larger ecosystem of forests, meadows, and fields. [^7^]
Malvasia Istriana, Tocai Friulano, Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Schioppettino. Grapes that belong to this place. [^2^]
Rocky, mineral-rich soils that were once beneath the sea. The land itself is the co-author of every wine, imparting a distinctive saline character. [^5^]
Spontaneous Fermentation, Natural Methods & No Chemicals
In the cellar, Sassocorno follows traditional and natural methods without the use of chemicals. [^5^] Fermentations take place spontaneously, thanks to the indigenous yeasts present in the grapes — no selected yeasts, no enzymes, no artificial aids. [^7^] Each Sassocorno wine is the result of artisanal work, an authentic expression of the terroir, made with patience and respect for natural rhythms. The team believes that the hand of man should be respectful, the transformation spontaneous, and the long wait patient — these three principles refine the wine into its final form.
The red wines undergo skin maceration in open vats, with durations varying according to variety and vintage. For the Refosco-based Rex, grapes are hand-harvested and fermented spontaneously on their skins for three weeks before ageing in cement and stainless steel tanks to preserve freshness. [^2^] The white wines — Badie (Tocai Friulano), Malvasia, and others — are handled with equal care, fermented spontaneously and aged in vessels chosen to respect the wine's natural character, whether steel, cement, or large wood.
There is no filtration and no clarification. The wines are bottled with their natural cloudiness, their living yeasts, and their full complement of polyphenols. This approach demands patience from the drinker — the wines may evolve unpredictably in the bottle — but it rewards with authenticity and depth. The goal is to create pure, free, and clean wines: wines that taste of the place they come from, not of the techniques applied to them. [^7^]
The result is a range of wines that are elegant, authentic, and unmistakably of eastern Friuli. They are wines shaped by generations of geological time — sourced from cherished vineyards cultivated on ancient soils where every stone and vine tells a story. [^20^] Sassocorno is a place where ancestral viticultural practices thrive with an energetic vision towards the future. [^7^]
Rex — "Deep Colour, Peppery Spice, Dark Berry Fruit"
The Rex is Sassocorno's flagship red — a natural wine made from 100% Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso grown in the rocky soils of Corno di Rosazzo. [^1^] Grapes are hand-harvested and fermented spontaneously on their skins for three weeks, then aged in cement and stainless steel tanks to preserve freshness and prevent oxidation. [^2^]
In the glass, it shows deep colour with floral aromas of violets, red fruit notes, and a rich, complex palate that is smooth and mature — a tribute to tradition, perfect for adding warmth to a meal of roasted white meat or aged cheese. [^11^] It is an authentic expression of the land: structured, savoury, and built for the table. The name Rex evokes the regal, commanding presence of Refosco when handled with patience and respect. ~€24–€32 / ~$26–$35.
The Sassocorno Range
Sassocorno produces a focused range of certified organic natural wines from indigenous Friulian varieties, all spontaneously fermented with native yeasts and made without chemical intervention. The portfolio reflects the founders' commitment to terroir expression and biodiversity. Prices are approximate and in EUR/USD.