DOC CollioFriulano, Sauvignon, Pinot Grigio, Ribolla Gialla, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon50 haFounded 1300Pali family (Loretto Pali)capriva-del-friuli
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.
DOC Collio / DOC Friuli IsonzoFriulano, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon, Ribolla Gialla, Chardonnay, Merlot35 haFounded 1975Folonari family (Tenute Folonari)capriva-del-friuli
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.
DOC Friuli Isonzo / DOC CollioPinot Grigio, Friulano, Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Ribolla Gialla, Pinot Bianco50 haFounded 1967Bertossi family (Vittorio Puiatti's heirs)romans-d-isonzo
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.
DOC Friuli Aquileia / DOC FriuliFriulano, Sauvignon, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso, Merlot22 haFounded 1789Foffani family (Giovanni Foffani)mariano-del-friuli
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.
DOC Friuli IsonzoMalvasia Istriana, Friulano, Pinot Grigio, Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon14 haFounded 1788Bortolusso family (Elisabetta Bortolusso)mariano-del-friuli
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.
DOC CollioPinot Grigio, Friulano, Sauvignon, Ribolla Gialla, Chardonnay20 haFounded 1898Kupelwieser familycapriva-del-friuli
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.
