DOC Friuli Colli OrientaliFriulano, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon, Pinot Bianco, Ribolla Gialla, Chardonnay, Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso50 haFounded 1596Rotolo family (Emilio Rotolo)buttrio
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.
DOCG Colli Orientali del Friuli Picolit / DOC Friuli Colli OrientaliPicolit, Friulano, Sauvignon, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Bianco, Verduzzo Friulano, Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso26 haFounded 1559Sovrano Militare Ordine di Malta (Sovereign Military Order of Malta)corno-di-rosazzo
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 The 26 hectares anchor one of the historical reference programmes for DOCG Picolit, with the recovered 19th-century plantings credited as one of the bases for the modern Picolit revival.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.
DOC Friuli Colli Orientali / DOCG Colli Orientali del Friuli PicolitFriulano, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon, Ribolla Gialla, Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso, Schioppettino, Picolit28 haFounded 1963Specogna family (Cristian and Michele Specogna)ORGANIC CERTIFIEDcorno-di-rosazzo
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.
DOC Friuli Colli Orientali / DOC CollioFriulano, Malvasia Istriana, Verduzzo Friulano, Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso16 haFounded 1996Pinto family (Mario Zanusso with sons Ferdinando Zanusso)ORGANIC CERTIFIEDcorno-di-rosazzo
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.
DOC Friuli Colli OrientaliFriulano, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon, Ribolla Gialla, Chardonnay, Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso, Schioppettino100 haFounded 1986Zorzettig family (Annalisa Zorzettig)ORGANIC CERTIFIEDcividale-del-friuli
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 MYÒ Friulano, Zorzettig MYÒ 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.
DOC Friuli Colli Orientali / Schioppettino di Prepotto sub-denomination / DOCG Colli Orientali del Friuli PicolitSchioppettino, Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso, Verduzzo Friulano, Picolit, Friulano, Ribolla Gialla21 haFounded 1970Rapuzzi family (Pierpaolo and Ivan Rapuzzi)ORGANIC CERTIFIEDPrepotto
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.
