Friulano around the world

Radikon ★ 4.9

Stanko Radikon began extended-skin-contact whites in 1995 at Oslavia, the year before Josko Gravner's parallel turn. His sons Sasa and Ivan have run the cellar since Stanko's 2016 death.

Tasting: Cellar visit by appointment at Tre Buchi with a vineyard walk through the Oslavia parcels, a walkthrough of the cellar's no-added-sulphur protocols and a flight of Ribolla, Oslavje and Jakot from current and back vintages. English available.

Signature wines: radikon-ribolla, radikon-oslavje, radikon-jakot, radikon-slatnik

Tip: Order any Radikon back-vintage from the cellar's calendar release list rather than the latest one; the family ships when it considers a wine ready, not on a default schedule.

La Castellada ★ 4.8

Bensa family cellar at Oslavia founded in 1985 by brothers Giorgio and Nicolò Bensa. Now run with the next generation Stefano and Matteo Bensa.

Tasting: Cellar visit at Oslavia by appointment with a vineyard walk on the ponca slopes shared with Gravner and Radikon, a flight of the Ribolla, Bianco della Castellada and Friulano in current and back vintages, and a tasting of the Rosso della Castellada when available.

Signature wines: la-castellada-ribolla, la-castellada-bianco-della-castellada, la-castellada-friulano, la-castellada-rosso-della-castellada

Tip: The Bianco della Castellada (Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon, Friulano, Ribolla) is the cellar's whole-Oslavia statement; ask for a vertical flight if the family has older vintages open.

Damijan Podversic ★ 4.7

Damijan Podversic established his own cellar in 1999 after years of working with Josko Gravner. The 12 hectares climb Monte Calvario above Gorizia city, sharing the ponca slope with the Oslavia houses.

Tasting: Cellar visit by appointment at Gorizia with a vineyard walk on the Monte Calvario parcels above the city and a flight of the Kaplja Bianco, Nekaj, Ribolla and Prelit Rosso from current and back vintages.

Signature wines: damijan-podversic-ribolla, damijan-podversic-kaplja, damijan-podversic-nekaj, damijan-podversic-prelit

Tip: The Kaplja Bianco (Friulano, Chardonnay, Malvasia Istriana) is the cellar's house white; pair it with prosciutto di San Daniele for the canonical Friulian table.

Schiopetto ★ 4.8

Founded in 1965 by Mario Schiopetto at the former Palazzo Arcivescovile of the Aquileia patriarchate at Capriva del Friuli. Schiopetto introduced temperature-controlled stainless-steel fermentations to Friuli in the late 1960s, establishing the modern technical baseline for clean, fruit-forward Pinot Grigio and Friulano. The estate, now under the Rotolo family, farms 30 hectares of Collio ponca and bottles around 250,000 bottles a year.

Tasting: Cellar visit at Capriva del Friuli by appointment with a vineyard walk through the Palazzo Arcivescovile parcels and a flight of the Friulano, Pinot Grigio and Mario Schiopetto memorial cuvée from current vintages.

Signature wines: schiopetto-friulano, schiopetto-pinot-grigio, schiopetto-mario-schiopetto, schiopetto-rivarossa

Tip: Ask for the Mario Schiopetto cuvée (a single-vineyard blend named for the founder) to taste the cellar's library style alongside the current entry-level Friulano.

Marco Felluga ★ 4.7

Founded in 1956 by Marco Felluga, the senior brother of Livio Felluga, the cellar built the Russiz Superiore property at Capriva del Friuli into one of the Collio's modern reference estates.

Tasting: Cellar visit at Gradisca d'Isonzo by appointment with a flight of the Molamatta Bianco, Mongris Pinot Grigio and Pradius Sauvignon Riserva from current vintages, plus a walk through the Russiz Collio parcels at the linked Russiz Superiore estate.

Signature wines: marco-felluga-molamatta, marco-felluga-mongris, marco-felluga-pradius

Tip: The Molamatta (Friulano, Pinot Bianco, Ribolla Gialla) is the cellar's whole-Collio statement; pair it with a board of San Daniele prosciutto and Montasio cheese at the estate restaurant.

Russiz Superiore ★ 4.8

Acquired by Marco Felluga in 1967 as the higher-elevation contiguous extension of the Marco Felluga estate at Capriva del Friuli. The 65 hectares climb the south-facing ponca slope behind the Russiz palace, with parcels between 100 and 200 metres feeding the Col Disôre and single-cru Riserva bottlings. Roberto Felluga leads the operation today.

Tasting: Estate visit at the Russiz hilltop by appointment with a vineyard walk through the Collio parcels and a flight of the Friulano Riserva, Sauvignon Riserva and the Col Disôre Bianco. The Tavernetta al Castello restaurant nearby pairs estate wines with regional plates.

Signature wines: russiz-superiore-col-disore, russiz-superiore-friulano-riserva, russiz-superiore-sauvignon-riserva

Tip: Col Disôre (Friulano, Pinot Bianco, Sauvignon, Ribolla Gialla) is the cellar's Collio bianco icon; ask for a back vintage if the cellar has one open.

Livio Felluga ★ 4.9

Founded in 1956 by Livio Felluga at Brazzano (Cormons), and now run by Livio's four children Maurizio, Filippo, Elda and Andrea Felluga. The estate farms approximately 165 hectares across the Colli Orientali, the Rosazzo ridge and the Collio. Terre Alte, the DOCG Rosazzo blend of Friulano, Pinot Bianco and Sauvignon, is the Friulian icon; the Picolit DOCG and the Sossó Refosco anchor the sweet and red ranges. The estate has been certified organic since the 2020s.

Tasting: Cellar visit at Brazzano by appointment with a vineyard walk through the Rosazzo and Brazzano parcels, a Terre Alte flight (the iconic DOCG Rosazzo blend) and a tasting of the Picolit DOCG when bottled. The Friuli wine resort on-site offers extended stays.

Signature wines: livio-felluga-terre-alte, livio-felluga-illivio, livio-felluga-friulano, livio-felluga-picolit, livio-felluga-sossó-refosco

Tip: The Friuli wine resort at the estate doubles as the visit base; book a vertical Terre Alte tasting paired with frico at the resort restaurant.

Borgo del Tiglio ★ 4.8

Nicola Manferrari took over the family cellar at Cormons in 1981 and rebuilt it into one of the Collio's most-cited reference estates for Friulano.

Tasting: Cellar visit at San Giorgio by appointment with a vineyard walk through the Cormons parcels and a flight of the Friulano, the Studio di Bianco (the cellar's whole-Collio statement) and back-vintage releases. Reservation required.

Signature wines: borgo-del-tiglio-friulano, borgo-del-tiglio-studio-di-bianco, borgo-del-tiglio-rosso-della-centa, borgo-del-tiglio-malvasia

Tip: The Studio di Bianco (Friulano, Sauvignon, Malvasia) is the cellar's anchor white; pair it with a slow-roasted pork shoulder from the Trattoria al Cacciatore at La Subida.

Edi Keber ★ 4.8

Edi Keber has farmed the family parcels at Zegla above Cormons since 1972 and pushed the cellar toward the field-blend Collio Bianco model in the 2010s.

Tasting: Cellar visit at Zegla by appointment with a vineyard walk through the Cormons hillside parcels and a vertical tasting of the Collio Bianco (Friulano, Ribolla, Malvasia) across multiple vintages. Kristian Keber runs day-to-day winemaking.

Signature wines: edi-keber-collio, edi-keber-collio-riserva

Tip: The cellar's argument that Collio is a single blend, not a list of varietals, is best understood with a vertical of the Collio across three or four vintages.

Venica & Venica ★ 4.8

Venica & Venica was founded in 1930 by Adamo Venica and built into the modern Collio reference for Sauvignon by his grandsons Gianni and Giorgio.

Tasting: Cellar visit at Cerò by appointment with a vineyard walk through the Ronco delle Cime and Ronco delle Mele parcels and a flight of the Ronco delle Mele Sauvignon, Tre Vignis Bianco and Refosco Bottaz. Farmhouse rooms on-site.

Signature wines: venica-e-venica-ronco-delle-mele, venica-e-venica-ronco-delle-cime, venica-e-venica-tre-vignis, venica-e-venica-bottaz

Tip: Ronco delle Mele Sauvignon is the cellar's calling card and the Collio's most-cited Sauvignon address; book the farmhouse rooms for an early-morning vineyard walk before the tasting.

Ronco del Gnemiz ★ 4.7

Ronco del Gnemiz farms 12 hectares on the Colli Orientali ridge around San Giovanni al Natisone and Manzano, on ponca soils. Serena Palazzolo took over the family cellar in the late 2000s with consulting from Christian Patat (formerly of Miani) and has pushed the cellar toward parcel-level bottlings of Friulano and Chardonnay aged in large oak. The wines are bottled in small batches and released late.

Tasting: Cellar visit by appointment at San Giovanni al Natisone with a vineyard walk through the Ronco del Gnemiz parcels and a flight of the single-parcel Chardonnay, Friulano and the cellar's Riservas.

Signature wines: ronco-del-gnemiz-friulano, ronco-del-gnemiz-chardonnay-il-roccolo, ronco-del-gnemiz-sauvignon

Tip: The single-parcel Chardonnay Il Roccolo is the cellar's library cuvée; ask for a back-vintage tasting alongside the Friulano.

Ronco dei Tassi ★ 4.6

Fabio Coser founded the cellar in 1989 on the Bosco del Merlo parcel above Cormons, and now runs it with sons Matteo and Andrea. The 19 hectares on Collio ponca around the Monte locality feed the Fosarin Bianco (Friulano, Pinot Bianco, Malvasia) as the cellar's signature blend and the Cjarandon (Sauvignon, Friulano, Chardonnay) as a second whole-Collio expression.

Tasting: Cellar visit at Monte by appointment with a vineyard walk through the Bosco del Merlo parcels and a flight of the Fosarin Bianco, Cjarandon Bianco and Bosc dal Sef Rosso. Farmhouse rooms on-site for overnight stays.

Signature wines: ronco-dei-tassi-fosarin, ronco-dei-tassi-cjarandon, ronco-dei-tassi-bosc-dal-sef

Tip: The farmhouse rooms double as a Cormons base; book the Fosarin vertical with a half-day of Collio cellar visits.

Doro Princic ★ 4.6

Founded in 1955 by Doro Princic, the Pradis cellar built its reputation on traditional reductive whites without oak or skin contact. Now run by Doro's son Sandro and grandson Alessandro Princic.

Tasting: Cellar visit at Pradis by appointment with a vineyard walk through the Cormons parcels and a flight of the Pinot Bianco, Friulano and Malvasia from the current vintage. The cellar focuses on traditional reductive whites without skin contact.

Signature wines: princic-pinot-bianco, princic-friulano, princic-malvasia

Tip: The Pinot Bianco is the cellar's calling card and one of the Collio's most-cited Pinot Bianco bottlings; pair it with the local prosciutto di San Daniele.

Franco Toros ★ 4.7

Franco Toros has run the small Novali cellar above Cormons since 1970, and the 10 hectares on ponca produce small lots of varietal Collio wines that critics regularly rank among the appellation's most precise.

Tasting: Cellar visit at Novali by appointment with a vineyard walk through the small Collio parcels and a varietal Collio flight of Friulano, Pinot Bianco, Sauvignon and the Merlot Riserva.

Signature wines: toros-friulano, toros-pinot-bianco, toros-sauvignon, toros-merlot

Tip: The Friulano is consistently among the appellation's most-cited; book the cellar early since the tasting room only holds 6.

La Tunella ★ 4.6

La Tunella was founded in 1960 by the Zorzettig family at Ipplis (Premariacco), in the centre of the Colli Orientali. Today brothers Massimo and Marco Zorzettig run the operation.

Tasting: Cellar visit at Ipplis by appointment with a vineyard walk and a flight of the Biancosesto Bianco, Sciarmat Sparkling and Refosco Rosso. The on-site agriturismo offers farmhouse rooms.

Signature wines: la-tunella-biancosesto, la-tunella-rjgialla, la-tunella-sciarmat, la-tunella-refosco

Tip: The Biancosesto Friulano-Ribolla blend is the cellar's whole-Colli statement; book the agriturismo for a Ramandolo and Picolit dessert-wine flight at the end of the visit.

Bastianich ★ 4.7

Founded in 1997 by Joseph Bastianich (the restaurateur and Lidia Bastianich's son) on Felluga-family advice, the Colli Orientali cellar at Cividale del Friuli farms 35 hectares between Cividale and Buttrio.

Tasting: Cellar visit at Cividale del Friuli by appointment with a vineyard walk through the Buttrio and Cividale parcels and a flight of the Vespa Bianco, Plus Friulano, Calabrone Rosso and Refosco. On-site farmhouse rooms and restaurant.

Signature wines: bastianich-vespa-bianco, bastianich-plus-friulano, bastianich-calabrone, bastianich-refosco

Tip: Book the on-site restaurant for a tasting menu paired with the cellar's range; the Vespa Bianco lands particularly well with the Friulian gnocchi de susini.

Le Vigne di Zamò ★ 4.7

Founded in 1924 by Vittorio Zamò and run today by Pierluigi and Silvano Zamò alongside daughter Annamaria. The 60 hectares span the Rosazzo ridge, Vigne dal Leon parcel and Abbazia di Rosazzo plots in the Colli Orientali. The cellar bottles a single-parcel Pignolo (one of the region's revival reds) and the Vigne dal Leon Refosco alongside the Picolit DOCG.

Tasting: Cellar visit at Rocca Bernarda by appointment with a vineyard walk through the Vigne dal Leon and Abbazia di Rosazzo parcels and a flight of the Tullio Zamò Bianco, Vigne dal Leon Refosco and the Picolit DOCG.

Signature wines: le-vigne-di-zamo-tullio-zamo, le-vigne-di-zamo-vigne-dal-leon-refosco, le-vigne-di-zamo-pignolo, le-vigne-di-zamo-picolit

Tip: Ask for the Pignolo back-vintages; the cellar holds library stock of one of Friuli's near-extinct revival reds.

Volpe Pasini ★ 4.7

Volpe Pasini's villa at Togliano dates to 1596 and the cellar's modern revival traces to the late-1980s acquisition by Emilio Rotolo. The 50 hectares on the Colli Orientali ridge above Cividale feed the Zuc di Volpe single-vineyard range as the cellar's signature programme.

Tasting: Estate visit at Togliano by appointment with a tour of the 16th-century villa and cellars, a vineyard walk through the Colli Orientali parcels and a flight of the Zuc di Volpe range. The on-site restaurant and farmhouse rooms pair estate wines with regional menus.

Signature wines: volpe-pasini-zuc-di-volpe-friulano, volpe-pasini-zuc-di-volpe-sauvignon, volpe-pasini-zuc-di-volpe-pinot-grigio

Tip: Book the villa restaurant for a Zuc di Volpe Friulano paired with regional gnocchi; the cellar runs estate-wide tastings before lunch service.

Rocca Bernarda ★ 4.7

Rocca Bernarda traces to 1559 when the Valvason family planted the first vineyards on the ridge above Premariacco. The estate was bequeathed to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta in 1977 and the Order continues to operate it. The 26 hectares anchor one of the historical reference programmes for DOCG Picolit, with the recovered 19th-century plantings credited as one of the bases for the modern Picolit revival.

Tasting: Cellar visit at Premariacco by appointment with a tour of the 16th-century villa and the historic Picolit cellars, a vineyard walk through the Rocca Bernarda parcels and a flight including the Picolit DOCG.

Signature wines: rocca-bernarda-picolit, rocca-bernarda-friulano, rocca-bernarda-refosco, rocca-bernarda-verduzzo

Tip: The Picolit cellar walk at the villa is the most direct way to understand DOCG Picolit's tiny yields and the history of the grape's near-extinction.

Specogna ★ 4.6

Specogna was founded in 1963 and is now run by brothers Cristian and Michele Specogna, the third Specogna generation. The 28 hectares on Colli Orientali ponca around Rocca Bernarda feed a small range with parcel-level Friulano and Pignolo bottlings. The Picolit DOCG is among the cellar's library cuvées.

Tasting: Cellar visit at Rocca Bernarda by appointment with a vineyard walk through the Specogna parcels and a flight of the Friulano, Pinot Grigio, Itoc Bianco and Picolit DOCG.

Signature wines: specogna-friulano, specogna-itoc-bianco, specogna-pignolo, specogna-picolit

Tip: Itoc Bianco (the cellar's whole-Colli Friulano-Pinot Grigio-Ribolla blend) is the entry to the cellar's library; ask for back vintages alongside.

I Clivi ★ 4.7

I Clivi was founded in 1996 by Mario Zanusso, who restored old-vine parcels at Corno di Rosazzo (Clivi Galea in the Colli Orientali) and Brazzano (Clivi Brazan in the Collio) where vines now average over 60 years.

Tasting: Cellar visit at Gramogliano by appointment with a vineyard walk through the Clivi Brazan and Clivi Galea old-vine parcels (vines averaging over 60 years) and a flight of the Brazan Friulano, Galea Bianco and the Malvasia. Reservation required.

Signature wines: i-clivi-brazan-friulano, i-clivi-galea-bianco, i-clivi-malvasia, i-clivi-verduzzo-rno

Tip: Ask the cellar for vine ages on the Clivi Brazan and Clivi Galea parcels; both are among the oldest continuous Friulano plantings in the region.

Zorzettig ★ 4.6

Zorzettig was founded in 1986 by Giuseppe Zorzettig at Spessa di Cividale and built into the modern operation by daughter Annalisa Zorzettig, who took over in the 2000s.

Tasting: Cellar visit at Spessa di Cividale by appointment with a vineyard walk through the Myò parcels and a flight of the Myò Friulano, Myò Sauvignon and the Refosco. On-site agriturismo with farmhouse rooms.

Signature wines: zorzettig-myo-friulano, zorzettig-myo-sauvignon, zorzettig-refosco

Tip: Book the agriturismo for an extended cellar walk; the Myò Friulano is the cellar's most-cited bottling and the Refosco lands particularly well with the Friulian goulash.

Ronchi di Cialla ★ 4.7

Paolo and Dina Rapuzzi bought the abandoned Cialla parcels in 1970 and replanted Schioppettino from heritage cuttings, working with the Prepotto growers' association to add the variety back to the permitted Friulian list. The cellar is the historical anchor of the Schioppettino-revival narrative and the namesake of the Schioppettino di Prepotto sub-denomination formalised in 2008. Sons Pierpaolo and Ivan Rapuzzi now run the operation.

Tasting: Cellar visit at Cialla by appointment with a vineyard walk through the Schioppettino parcels in the Prepotto valley and a flight of the Schioppettino di Cialla, Refosco, Verduzzo and Picolit. The cellar holds back-vintage library bottles for special visits.

Signature wines: ronchi-di-cialla-schioppettino, ronchi-di-cialla-refosco, ronchi-di-cialla-verduzzo, ronchi-di-cialla-picolit

Tip: Ask for a Schioppettino di Cialla vertical; the cellar holds library stock and the variety ages 10 to 20 years.

Dario Coos ★ 4.5

Dario Coos founded the cellar in 1979 in the Ramandolo zone above Nimis and built it into one of the appellation's most-cited sweet-wine producers. Daughter Federica Coos now works in the cellar.

Tasting: Cellar visit at Ramandolo by appointment with a vineyard walk through the steep Monte Bernadia slopes and a flight of the Ramandolo DOCG, the Picolit DOCG and the Friulano Colli Orientali. The cellar's sweet-wine focus makes it a strong base for understanding the late-harvest tradition.

Signature wines: dario-coos-ramandolo-il-longhino, dario-coos-picolit, dario-coos-friulano

Tip: Il Longhino Ramandolo is the cellar's flagship; pair it with the local Montasio cheese at the end of a Colli Orientali day trip.

Miani ★ 4.8

Enzo Pontoni rebuilt his family's small Buttrio cellar from 1985 onward into one of Friuli's most-allocated reference cellars. The 16 hectares of old-vine parcels around Buttrio (Buri, Filip, Saurint, Calvari) are dry-farmed at very low yields, fermented spontaneously and aged in large oak. Miani's whites are among the most concentrated examples of Colli Orientali Friulano and Sauvignon and have a long-running auction-market following.

Tasting: Cellar access is essentially closed to the public; the cellar does not run a standard visitor programme. Wines are allocated through a small distributor network and traded in the secondary market. Reference here is editorial only.

Signature wines: miani-friulano-buri, miani-friulano-filip, miani-sauvignon-saurint, miani-merlot-calvari

Tip: The cellar does not run public tastings; reach the wines through specialist Friuli importers and aged bottle lists at top regional restaurants.

Vie di Romans ★ 4.8

Gianfranco Gallo took over the family Isonzo plain cellar in 1978 and built Vie di Romans into the appellation's reference point. The 60 hectares on the alluvial gravel plain south of Cormons feed single-parcel Sauvignon, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay and Friulano with very low yields and lees-driven elevage. Vieris Sauvignon and Dessimis Pinot Grigio are the cellar's most-cited bottlings.

Tasting: Cellar visit at Vie di Romans by appointment with a vineyard walk through the river-shaped gravel parcels of the Isonzo plain and a flight of the Vieris Sauvignon, Dis Cumieris Friulano, Dessimis Pinot Grigio and Ciampagnis Chardonnay. Reservation required.

Signature wines: vie-di-romans-vieris, vie-di-romans-dis-cumieris, vie-di-romans-dessimis, vie-di-romans-ciampagnis, vie-di-romans-flors-di-uis

Tip: The Isonzo plain's gravel parcels produce ripe, concentrated whites unlike the more aromatic Collio expressions; book a comparative tasting with a Collio Sauvignon nearby.

Lis Neris ★ 4.7

Lis Neris has been in the Pecorari family since 1879, and Alvaro Pecorari has run the modern operation since the 1980s. The 75 hectares on Isonzo gravel feed Gris Pinot Grigio and Picol Sauvignon (the cellar's two single-parcel anchors), Confini (the cellar's whole-Isonzo blend) and Tal Lùc (a small-production late-harvest Verduzzo and Riesling blend).

Tasting: Cellar visit at San Lorenzo Isontino by appointment with a vineyard walk through the Lis Neris Isonzo parcels and a flight of the Gris Pinot Grigio, Picol Sauvignon, Confini and Tal Lùc late-harvest. Reservation required.

Signature wines: lis-neris-gris, lis-neris-picol, lis-neris-confini, lis-neris-tal-luc

Tip: Gris Pinot Grigio is one of Italy's most-cited Pinot Grigio bottlings; pair it with a salt-cured San Daniele prosciutto for the classic Friulian table.

Pierpaolo Pecorari ★ 4.6

Pierpaolo Pecorari built the cellar at San Lorenzo Isontino from 1974 onward, working the Isonzo gravel parcels in the DOC. Son Alessandro Pecorari now works alongside him.

Tasting: Cellar visit at San Lorenzo Isontino by appointment with a vineyard walk through the Isonzo gravel parcels and a flight of the single-parcel Pinot Grigio, Friulano, Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Reservation required.

Signature wines: pierpaolo-pecorari-altis-sauvignon, pierpaolo-pecorari-olivers-chardonnay, pierpaolo-pecorari-pinot-grigio, pierpaolo-pecorari-kolaus

Tip: The Altis Sauvignon is the cellar's lifted, aromatic flagship; the Pinot Grigio holds its own in any Friuli Isonzo lineup.

Borgo San Daniele ★ 4.6

Borgo San Daniele was founded in 1988 by siblings Mauro and Alessandra Mauri at the boundary of Cormons and the Isonzo plain. The 18 hectares on the river-shaped gravels feed a small range of single-parcel whites and a Bordeaux-style red. The cellar has been organic for over a decade and now works biodynamically.

Tasting: Cellar visit at Cormons by appointment with a vineyard walk through the Isonzo gravel parcels and a flight of the Friulano, Pinot Grigio, Arbis Blanc and Gortmarin Rosso.

Signature wines: borgo-san-daniele-friulano, borgo-san-daniele-pinot-grigio, borgo-san-daniele-arbis-blanc, borgo-san-daniele-gortmarin

Tip: Arbis Blanc (Chardonnay, Friulano, Sauvignon, Pinot Bianco) is the cellar's whole-Isonzo statement; pair it with the local Adriatic fish at La Subida.

Ronco del Gelso ★ 4.6

Giorgio Badin built Ronco del Gelso from 1985 onward at the boundary of Cormons and the Isonzo plain. The 23 hectares on river-shaped gravel feed single-parcel bottlings of Pinot Grigio (Sot lis Rivis), Friulano (Toc Bas) and a rare Friulian Riesling Renano (Latimis). The cellar has been organic for over a decade.

Tasting: Cellar visit at Cormons by appointment with a vineyard walk through the Isonzo parcels and a flight of the Pinot Grigio Sot lis Rivis, Friulano Toc Bas and the Riesling Renano Latimis. Reservation required.

Signature wines: ronco-del-gelso-pinot-grigio-sot-lis-rivis, ronco-del-gelso-friulano-toc-bas, ronco-del-gelso-riesling-latimis

Tip: The Riesling Renano Latimis is a rare Friulian dry Riesling; book a tasting against the Pinot Grigio Sot lis Rivis for an unusual Isonzo white flight.

Ronchi di Manzano ★ 4.5

Ronchi di Manzano was founded in 1969 by Giovanni Borghese and is now led by his daughter Roberta Borghese. The 50 hectares on Colli Orientali ponca around Manzano and Orsaria feed varietal whites, Schioppettino and Picolit DOCG. The on-site agriturismo doubles as a Colli Orientali base.

Tasting: Cellar visit at Orsaria by appointment with a vineyard walk through the Manzano parcels and a flight of the Friulano, Sauvignon, Schioppettino and Picolit DOCG. On-site agriturismo with farmhouse rooms.

Signature wines: ronchi-di-manzano-friulano, ronchi-di-manzano-schioppettino, ronchi-di-manzano-picolit

Tip: The Schioppettino is among the cellar's library cuvées; ask for a back-vintage tasting paired with the agriturismo dinner.

Attems ★ 4.5

Attems traces to 1106 as a noble Friulian family estate. Marchesi Frescobaldi acquired the operation in 2000 and has invested in the Lucinico cellar and Collio parcels since.

Tasting: Estate visit at Lucinico by appointment with a vineyard walk through the Collio parcels and a flight of the Cicinis Sauvignon, Pinot Grigio Ramato and the Sauvignon DOC Collio. Reservation required.

Signature wines: attems-cicinis, attems-pinot-grigio-ramato, attems-sauvignon

Tip: The Pinot Grigio Ramato is a worthwhile gateway to the Friulian skin-contact tradition without the full orange-wine commitment; pair it with the Friulian frico.

Castello di Spessa ★ 4.6

Castello di Spessa is built around a medieval castle whose first documented mention dates to 1300, and the modern wine operation was rebuilt by the Pali family.

Tasting: Estate visit at Capriva del Friuli by appointment with a tour of the medieval Castello di Spessa, a vineyard walk through the Collio parcels and a flight of the Capriva Sauvignon, Pinot Grigio and Santarosa Friulano. The on-site golf course, the Tavernetta and the boutique hotel rooms extend the visit into a full estate stay.

Signature wines: castello-di-spessa-capriva-sauvignon, castello-di-spessa-santarosa, castello-di-spessa-pinot-grigio

Tip: Book the hotel rooms for an extended Collio base; the Capriva Sauvignon is the cellar's most-cited cuvée and the Tavernetta restaurant carries a deep estate-wine list.

Borgo Conventi ★ 4.5

Borgo Conventi was founded in 1975 by Gianni Vescovo and acquired by Tenute Folonari in 2001. The 35 hectares straddle the Collio and Friuli Isonzo DOCs at Farra d'Isonzo and feed a small range of varietal whites plus the Bianco delle Streghe (Friulano, Pinot Bianco, Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Ribolla) blend. The cellar is the Folonari group's only Friulian property.

Tasting: Cellar visit at Farra d'Isonzo by appointment with a vineyard walk through the Collio and Isonzo parcels and a flight of the Borgo Conventi varietal whites and the Bianco delle Streghe blend.

Signature wines: borgo-conventi-friulano, borgo-conventi-bianco-delle-streghe, borgo-conventi-sauvignon

Tip: The Bianco delle Streghe is the cellar's whole-Collio statement; pair it with frico and prosciutto di San Daniele for the canonical Friulian board.

Puiatti ★ 4.5

Vittorio Puiatti founded the cellar in 1967 at Romans d'Isonzo, working alongside Mario Schiopetto in the modern Friulian whites revolution.

Tasting: Cellar visit at Romans d'Isonzo by appointment with a vineyard walk through the Puiatti parcels and a flight of the Pinot Grigio, Friulano and Archetipi Riserva. The cellar's traditional-method sparkling programme is among the appellation's references.

Signature wines: puiatti-pinot-grigio, puiatti-friulano, puiatti-archetipi

Tip: The Pinot Grigio is one of Friuli's most-distributed whites; book the Archetipi Riserva tasting for the cellar's library style.

Foffani ★ 4.4

Foffani has been in the family at Clauiano (one of Italy's borghi più belli) since 1789. The 22 hectares on the Friuli Aquileia plain feed varietal whites and the cellar's traditional-method sparkling. Giovanni Foffani runs the operation today.

Tasting: Estate visit at Clauiano by appointment with a tour of the historic Palazzo Foffani in the medieval village (one of Italy's borghi più belli), a vineyard walk through the Friuli Aquileia plain parcels and a flight of the Friulano, Sauvignon and Refosco.

Signature wines: foffani-friulano, foffani-refosco, foffani-spumante

Tip: Clauiano village walk is the natural pairing with a Foffani tasting; the medieval streets carry the Aquileia patriarchate's architectural fingerprint.

Tenuta di Blasig ★ 4.4

Tenuta di Blasig has been in the family at Ronchi dei Legionari since 1788, making it one of Friuli's oldest continuously family-owned cellars. Elisabetta Bortolusso leads the modern operation.

Tasting: Cellar visit at Ronchi dei Legionari by appointment with a vineyard walk through the Isonzo plain parcels and a flight of the Malvasia Istriana, Friulano and Refosco.

Signature wines: tenuta-di-blasig-malvasia-istriana, tenuta-di-blasig-friulano, tenuta-di-blasig-refosco

Tip: The cellar's Malvasia Istriana from the Isonzo plain is a worthwhile contrast against the Carso versions; book a comparative tasting if travelling between the two appellations.

Kupelwieser ★ 4.4

Kupelwieser traces to 1898 as a Tyrolean family wine operation with holdings in Alto Adige and the Collio. The 20-hectare Capriva del Friuli cellar produces varietal Collio whites that travel widely in northern European markets. The family also runs the Castelfeder operation in Alto Adige.

Tasting: Cellar visit at Capriva del Friuli by appointment with a vineyard walk through the Collio parcels and a flight of the Friulano, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon and Ribolla Gialla. The cellar is part of the historic Tyrolean Kupelwieser family operations that also include holdings in Alto Adige.

Signature wines: kupelwieser-friulano, kupelwieser-pinot-grigio, kupelwieser-sauvignon

Tip: A Kupelwieser visit pairs naturally with an Alto Adige tour the next day; the family's parallel Tyrolean cellar shares the same accent on cool-climate whites.

Bressan Mastri Vinai ★ 4.5

Bressan Mastri Vinai is one of Friuli's oldest continuous wine families, with documented activity at Farra d'Isonzo since 1726. Fulvio Bressan runs the cellar in its modern form.

Tasting: Cellar visit at Farra d'Isonzo by appointment with a vineyard walk through the Bressan parcels (a Friuli holding documented since 1726) and a flight of the Pinot Grigio, Schioppettino, Pignolo and Verduzzo. Reservation required.

Signature wines: bressan-pinot-grigio, bressan-schioppettino, bressan-pignolo, bressan-verduzzo

Tip: The Pignolo is the cellar's library red and one of Friuli's revival varietals; ask for a back-vintage tasting alongside the Schioppettino.

Scolaris ★ 4.3

Scolaris was founded in 1923 by the Scolaris family at San Lorenzo Isontino, in the Friuli Isonzo DOC. Andrea Scolaris runs the modern operation.

Tasting: Cellar visit at San Lorenzo Isontino by appointment with a vineyard walk through the Isonzo parcels and a flight of the Pinot Grigio, Friulano and Sauvignon.

Signature wines: scolaris-pinot-grigio, scolaris-friulano, scolaris-sauvignon

Tip: Book a comparative Pinot Grigio tasting against a Collio version nearby; the Isonzo gravels give a different mid-palate weight than the Collio ponca.

Radikon Tasting Room ★ 4.8

Sasa and Ivan Radikon's cellar at Tre Buchi above Oslavia pours the orange Oslavje and the 500 ml Sivi Pinot Grigio that Stanko Radikon pioneered alongside Josko Gravner.

Tasting: Visit the Tre Buchi cellar where Sasa and Ivan Radikon continue Stanko Radikon's extended-skin-contact programme, with a flight of Oslavje, Ribolla Gialla and the 500 ml Sivi Pinot Grigio. Visits run by reservation only Monday to Friday.

La Castellada Tasting Room ★ 4.7

Bensa family cellar at the Oslavia ridge pouring Ribolla Gialla, Friulano and the Bianco della Castellada extended-skin-contact blend across vineyard walks on the ponca slopes.

Tasting: Visit the Bensa family cellar at the top of Oslavia, with a vineyard walk on the ponca slopes and a flight of Ribolla Gialla, Friulano and the Bianco della Castellada extended-skin-contact blend.

Damijan Podversic Tasting Room ★ 4.7

Damijan Podversic's Kalvarija cellar above Gorizia pours Kaplja, Ribolla Gialla and the Prelit red, the Oslavia school's fourth orange-wine reference.

Tasting: Walk the Kalvarija slope cellar above Gorizia with Damijan Podversic, with a flight of Kaplja (the Friulano, Chardonnay and Malvasia skin-contact blend), Ribolla Gialla and the Prelit Cabernet and Merlot red.

Schiopetto Tasting Room ★ 4.8

Mario Schiopetto's Capriva cellar at the Palazzo Arcivescovile pours Friulano, Pinot Grigio and the Mario Schiopetto Riserva, the technical baseline for modern Friulian white wine since the late 1960s.

Tasting: Visit the Capriva cellar where Mario Schiopetto installed stainless-steel temperature-controlled white-wine vinifications in the late 1960s, with a vineyard walk above the Palazzo Arcivescovile and a flight of Friulano, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon and the Mario Schiopetto Riserva.

Russiz Superiore Tasting Room ★ 4.7

Marco Felluga group cellar at Capriva above the Isonzo plain, pouring Friulano, Pinot Bianco and the Riserva degli Orzoni Merlot across vineyard walks on the south-facing ponca.

Tasting: Visit the Marco Felluga group's hillside Russiz Superiore cellar at Capriva, with a vineyard walk on the south-facing ponca slopes above the river plain and a flight of Friulano, Pinot Bianco, Sauvignon and the Riserva degli Orzoni Merlot.

Livio Felluga Tasting Room ★ 4.9

Livio Felluga cellar at Brazzano of Cormons pours Friulano, Pinot Grigio, the Terre Alte Rosazzo white blend and the DOCG Picolit, the modern Colli Orientali reference.

Tasting: Visit the Brazzano of Cormons cellar where Livio Felluga rebuilt the Rosazzo hill plantings after 1956, with a tour of the Vigneti delle Dolomiti slopes and a flight of Friulano, Pinot Grigio, Terre Alte (Friulano, Pinot Bianco and Sauvignon white blend) and the DOCG Picolit.

Edi Keber Tasting Room ★ 4.7

Edi Keber's Zegla cellar at Cormons pours the single-cuvée Collio Bianco that the family has chosen as its only bottling, a Friulano, Ribolla and Malvasia blend in three formats.

Tasting: Walk the Zegla hillside cellar with Edi and Kristian Keber, with a vineyard tour of the south-facing ponca and a flight of the single-cuvée Collio Bianco (Friulano, Ribolla Gialla and Malvasia Istriana) that the family bottles as its only wine.

Venica & Venica Tasting Room ★ 4.7

Venica family cellar at Cero of Dolegna del Collio pours Sauvignon Ronco delle Mele, Friulano Ronco delle Cime and the Bianco Tre Vignis blend across vineyard walks on the Dolegna ridge.

Tasting: Visit the Venica family cellar at Cero of Dolegna del Collio, with a walk through the Ronco delle Cime and Ronco delle Mele vineyards and a flight of Sauvignon Ronco delle Mele, Friulano Ronco delle Cime and the Bianco Tre Vignis.

Bastianich Tasting Room ★ 4.6

Bastianich family cellar at Cividale del Friuli pours Vespa Bianco, Friulano Plus and the Calabrone Refosco, Schioppettino and Pignolo blend across vineyard walks above Cividale.

Tasting: Visit the Bastianich family cellar at Premariacco above Cividale where Joe and Lidia Bastianich built the Friuli outpost of their New York Italian-food family, with a flight of Vespa Bianco (Chardonnay, Sauvignon and Picolit), the Friulano Plus and the Calabrone Refosco, Schioppettino and Pignolo red.

La Tunella Tasting Room ★ 4.6

Zorzettig family La Tunella cellar at Ipplis of Premariacco pours Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon and the Biancosesto Friulano and Ribolla blend across the Colli Orientali slopes.

Tasting: Visit the Zorzettig family cellar at Ipplis of Premariacco, with a walk through the Colli Orientali plantings and a flight of Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon, Friulano and the Biancosesto Friulano and Ribolla white blend.

Volpe Pasini Tasting Room ★ 4.6

Volpe Pasini's 16th-century cellar at Togliano of Torreano pours Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon and the Zuc di Volpe single-vineyard whites across the Colli Orientali ridge.

Tasting: Visit the 16th-century Volpe Pasini cellar at Togliano of Torreano with a vineyard walk on the Zuc di Volpe ridge and a flight of Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon, Friulano and the Zuc di Volpe single-vineyard whites.

Rocca Bernarda Tasting Room ★ 4.6

Rocca Bernarda cellar at Premariacco, owned by the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, pours Friulano, Pinot Bianco and the DOCG Colli Orientali del Friuli Picolit 375 ml.

Tasting: Visit the Sovereign Military Order of Malta's Rocca Bernarda cellar at Premariacco, with a vineyard walk to the DOCG Picolit plantings and a flight of Friulano, Pinot Bianco, Refosco and the DOCG Colli Orientali del Friuli Picolit in 375 ml.

Vie di Romans Tasting Room ★ 4.8

Gianfranco Gallo's Vie di Romans cellar on the Isonzo gravel terraces pours single-vineyard Chardonnay, Sauvignon Piere, Friulano Dolee and Pinot Grigio Dessimis.

Tasting: Visit Gianfranco Gallo's Vie di Romans cellar on the Isonzo gravel terraces at Mariano del Friuli, with a vineyard walk past the single-vineyard plots and a flight of Chardonnay Vie di Romans, Sauvignon Piere, Friulano Dolee and the Pinot Grigio Dessimis.

Castello di Spessa Tasting Room ★ 4.7

Castello di Spessa's 13th-century castle cellar above Capriva pours Sauvignon, Friulano, Pinot Grigio and the Casanova Pignolo across the 18-hole golf-course estate.

Tasting: Visit the 13th-century Castello di Spessa above Capriva del Friuli (Casanova once stayed at the castle in the 1770s), with a walk through the 18-hole golf course planted between the vineyards and a flight of Sauvignon, Friulano, Pinot Grigio and the Casanova Pignolo red.

Castello di Buttrio Tasting Room ★ 4.7

11th-century Castello di Buttrio above the Rosazzo hill pours Friulano, Refosco and the Riserva del Castello across the Museo del Vino, the vineyard walk and the castle restaurant.

Tasting: Visit the 11th-century Castello di Buttrio cellar above the Rosazzo hill, with the Museo del Vino on the cellar floor (winemaking objects across the Colli Orientali centuries), a vineyard walk on the south-facing ponca and a flight of Friulano, Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso and the Riserva del Castello.

Damijan Podversic ★ 4.7

Twelve-hectare Oslavia orange-wine cellar above Gorizia, extended-skin-contact Ribolla, Friulano, Chardonnay and a Merlot-Cabernet red.

Why locals love it: Smaller than the three other Oslavia cellars, with most of the production reserved for sommelier and natural-wine retail in Italy and northern Europe. The Gorizia urban-edge address makes the cellar easy to miss from the Cormons-side tour map.

Tip: Damijan's address sits above the city of Gorizia rather than at the Oslavia hamlet, so it pairs naturally with a Gorizia morning before driving up to Gravner or Radikon.

Dario Coos ★ 4.4

Small specialist Ramandolo and Picolit DOCG cellar in the Nimis foothills above Tarcento, with tight production and a Pre-Alpine microclimate.

Why locals love it: Tiny Nimis foothill DOCG that gets less attention than the Collio whites; the cellar is small enough that visits run by appointment with the family.

Tip: The Ramandolo hillsides have a Pre-Alpine microclimate distinct from the Collio and Colli Orientali; pair the cellar visit with a Tarcento or Nimis lunch.

Miani ★ 4.8

Cult Colli Orientali cellar at Buttrio under Enzo Pontoni; tiny production of single-plot Friulano, Sauvignon, Refosco and Merlot.

Why locals love it: Cellar door visits are extremely limited; the bottles sit at the cult-collector end of the Colli Orientali. Allocations to the wine trade are small and waiting-list managed.

Tip: Miani bottles are easier to find at top Cormons and Cividale wine bars than at the cellar; the Enoteca Comunale at Cormons usually has at least one Miani open.

La Castellada ★ 4.6

Eight-hectare Oslavia cellar in the centre of the orange-wine hamlet; the Bianco della Castellada is a five-grape extended-skin-contact blend.

Why locals love it: Tight production (around 25,000 bottles a year) keeps the cellar off most international retail lists; cellar door visits run by appointment only.

Tip: La Castellada sits within walking distance of Gravner and Radikon at Oslavia; arrange all three on a single morning if the appointments line up.

Schiopetto Collio Friulano ★ 4.6

The Collio Friulano from Schiopetto, the cellar that introduced temperature-controlled white vinification to Friuli in the mid-1960s under Mario Schiopetto.

Tip: Pair the Friulano with San Daniele prosciutto for the canonical Collio pairing; the wine's faintly bitter finish lifts the cured pork salt.

Edi Keber Collio Bianco ★ 4.7

Edi Keber's Collio is the cellar's single blended white from the Zegla vineyards above Cormons, a Friulano-led blend with Ribolla Gialla and Malvasia Istriana that the family treats as the Collio's canonical territorial wine (one bottle per vintage, no varietal cuvees). Apple skin, white pepper, dried hay and a salty almond finish.

Tip: Edi Keber bottles only one wine per vintage; ask the cellar for a vertical of two or three back-vintages to read the territorial expression year to year.

Volpe Pasini Zuc di Volpe Friulano ★ 4.5

Zuc di Volpe is the single-vineyard Friulano from Volpe Pasini, the Pittaro family cellar at Togliano di Torreano in the Colli Orientali. The Zuc di Volpe hilltop vineyard sits at 220 metres on ponca marl.

Tip: Zuc di Volpe drinks well on release but lifts further at 4 to 6 years; lay down a bottle from each vintage if the cellar door has the library option.

Specogna Colli Orientali Friulano ★ 4.4

Specogna's standard Friulano from the Rocca Bernarda hill in Corno di Rosazzo, the Colli Orientali commune that hosts the cellar of the same name.

Tip: Combine the Friulano with the cellar's Picolit DOCG half-bottle for a Colli Orientali full picture; the two varieties share the same family of soils.

Livio Felluga Colli Orientali Friulano ★ 4.5

The Friulano from Livio Felluga at Brazzano di Cormons, the cellar founded by Livio Felluga (older brother of Marco) and now run by the next generation across the Colli Orientali parcels at Rosazzo, Buttrio and Cividale.

Tip: Pair the Friulano with a half-bottle of Livio Felluga Picolit DOCG for an end-of-meal pairing; the cellar bottles both as flagship Colli Orientali expressions.

I Clivi Galea Friulano ★ 4.5

Galea is the Colli Orientali Friulano from I Clivi, the Zanusso family cellar at Gramogliano (Corno di Rosazzo) known for restored old-vine plots and organic farming.

Tip: I Clivi pours old-vine vintages from the cellar library; ask for a vertical of Galea to read the old-vine concentration year to year.