DOC CarsoVitovska, Malvasia Istriana, Terrano, Refosco, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Sauvignon50 haFounded 1985Terraneo family (Maddalena Terraneo)duino-aurisina
Castelvecchio sits at Sagrado at the northern edge of the Carso, where the karst plateau meets the Isonzo plain. The Terraneo family has run the cellar since 1985, with Maddalena Terraneo leading the operation.
Tasting: Estate visit at Sagrado by appointment with a tour of the medieval castle ruins, a vineyard walk through the Carso parcels and a flight of the Vitovska, Malvasia and Terrano. The castle setting makes the visit a hybrid wine and heritage half-day.
Signature wines: castelvecchio-vitovska, castelvecchio-malvasia, castelvecchio-terrano, castelvecchio-refosco
Tip: The Carso castle setting at Sagrado makes Castelvecchio the most photogenic Carso visit; pair it with the Isonzo battlefield museum a short drive away.
Friulano, Sauvignon, Picolit, RefoscoAppointment onlycividale-del-friuli
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.
Friulano, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon, RefoscoAppointment onlybuttrio
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.
Picolit, Friulano, Pinot Bianco, RefoscoAppointment onlycorno-di-rosazzo
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.
Friulano, Refosco, Ribolla Gialla, PicolitAppointment onlybuttrio
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.