The Collio Pinot Bianco from Russiz Superiore, the higher-elevation Felluga family estate above Marco Felluga at Capriva del Friuli. Russiz Superiore has carried a regional Pinot Bianco reputation through the last two decades. Pear, mountain herbs, almond, mineral salt and a textured finish.
Tip: Russiz Superiore's Pinot Bianco runs quietly at this price band; pair with a Cormons trattoria's gnocchi-and-formadi-frant plate.
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.
The Mongris is the Collio Pinot Grigio from Marco Felluga, the 1956 founding estate of the Felluga family on the Russiz hill at Capriva del Friuli.
Tip: Mongris is one of the few sub-EUR 25 ramato-style Pinot Grigio bottlings widely distributed; pair with grilled shellfish or a Cormons-style frico cheese plate.
Jesera is the Collio Pinot Grigio from Venica & Venica at Dolegna del Collio, the family cellar run by brothers Gianni and Giorgio Venica with the third generation.
Tip: Venica & Venica's farmhouse rooms at Dolegna are a popular Collio overnight base; pair the cellar tasting with one of the on-site dinner pairings.
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.
Studio di Bianco is the Friulano-led white blend from Nicola Manferrari at Borgo del Tiglio in Brazzano di Cormons. Tiny production from the cellar's hilltop ponca vineyards: a blend of Friulano, Sauvignon, Pinot Bianco and Riesling. Yellow apple, citrus peel, white flowers, mineral salt and an ageing capacity unusual at this price band.
Tip: Borgo del Tiglio bottles are allocated tight; book the cellar visit directly to taste current and library vintages of Studio di Bianco side-by-side.
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.