Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso in Friuli-Venezia Giulia

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Bressan Mastri Vinai ★ 4.6

Historic family cellar at Farra d'Isonzo (winemaking documented since 1726) with extended-elevage indigenous reds: Schioppettino, Pignolo, Refosco.

Why locals love it: Cellar releases are held back until the family considers them ready, so vintages reach the market several years behind the standard schedule. Distribution is selective.

Tip: The Pignolo and the Schioppettino reward 10 to 20 years of bottle age; the cellar door can pour library vintages by appointment.