DOC Friuli IsonzoPinot Grigio, Sauvignon, Friulano, Chardonnay, Malvasia Istriana, Pinot Bianco60 haFounded 1978Gallo family (Gianfranco Gallo)Winemaker Gianfranco Galloromans-d-isonzo
Gianfranco Gallo took over the family Isonzo plain cellar in 1978 and built Vie di Romans into the appellation's reference point. The 60 hectares on the alluvial gravel plain south of Cormons feed single-parcel Sauvignon, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay and Friulano with very low yields and lees-driven elevage. Vieris Sauvignon and Dessimis Pinot Grigio are the cellar's most-cited bottlings.
Tasting: Cellar visit at Vie di Romans by appointment with a vineyard walk through the river-shaped gravel parcels of the Isonzo plain and a flight of the Vieris Sauvignon, Dis Cumieris Friulano, Dessimis Pinot Grigio and Ciampagnis Chardonnay. Reservation required.
Signature wines: Vie Di Romans Vieris, Vie Di Romans Dis Cumieris, Vie Di Romans Dessimis, Vie Di Romans Ciampagnis, Vie di Romans Flors di Uis
Tip: The Isonzo plain's gravel parcels produce ripe, concentrated whites unlike the more aromatic Collio expressions; book a comparative tasting with a Collio Sauvignon nearby.
DOC Friuli IsonzoPinot Grigio, Sauvignon, Friulano, Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Merlot, Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso75 haFounded 1879Pecorari family (Alvaro Pecorari)Winemaker Alvaro PecorariORGANIC CERTIFIEDRomans d'Isonzo
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.
DOC Friuli IsonzoPinot Grigio, Sauvignon, Friulano, Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Merlot25 haFounded 1974Pecorari family (Pierpaolo Pecorari and son Alessandro Pecorari)romans-d-isonzo
Pierpaolo Pecorari built the cellar at San Lorenzo Isontino from 1974 onward, working the Isonzo gravel parcels in the DOC. Son Alessandro Pecorari now works alongside him.
Tasting: Cellar visit at San Lorenzo Isontino by appointment with a vineyard walk through the Isonzo gravel parcels and a flight of the single-parcel Pinot Grigio, Friulano, Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Reservation required.
Signature wines: Pierpaolo Pecorari Altis Sauvignon, Pierpaolo Pecorari Olivers Chardonnay, Pierpaolo Pecorari Pinot Grigio, Pierpaolo Pecorari Kolaus
Tip: The Altis Sauvignon is the cellar's lifted, aromatic flagship; the Pinot Grigio holds its own in any Friuli Isonzo lineup.
DOC Friuli IsonzoFriulano, Sauvignon, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon18 haFounded 1988Mauri family (Mauro and Alessandra Mauri)Biodynamic PracticingORGANIC CERTIFIEDmariano-del-friuli
Borgo San Daniele was founded in 1988 by siblings Mauro and Alessandra Mauri at the boundary of Cormons and the Isonzo plain. The 18 hectares on the river-shaped gravels feed a small range of single-parcel whites and a Bordeaux-style red. The cellar has been organic for over a decade and now works biodynamically.
Tasting: Cellar visit at Cormons by appointment with a vineyard walk through the Isonzo gravel parcels and a flight of the Friulano, Pinot Grigio, Arbis Blanc and Gortmarin Rosso.
Signature wines: Borgo San Daniele Friulano, Borgo San Daniele Pinot Grigio, Borgo San Daniele Arbis Blanc, Borgo San Daniele Gortmarin
Tip: Arbis Blanc (Chardonnay, Friulano, Sauvignon, Pinot Bianco) is the cellar's whole-Isonzo statement; pair it with the local Adriatic fish at La Subida.
DOC Friuli IsonzoPinot Grigio, Friulano, Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Riesling Renano, Merlot23 haFounded 1985Giorgio BadinWinemaker Giorgio BadinORGANIC CERTIFIEDromans-d-isonzo
Giorgio Badin built Ronco del Gelso from 1985 onward at the boundary of Cormons and the Isonzo plain. The 23 hectares on river-shaped gravel feed single-parcel bottlings of Pinot Grigio (Sot lis Rivis), Friulano (Toc Bas) and a rare Friulian Riesling Renano (Latimis). The cellar has been organic for over a decade.
Tasting: Cellar visit at Cormons by appointment with a vineyard walk through the Isonzo parcels and a flight of the Pinot Grigio Sot lis Rivis, Friulano Toc Bas and the Riesling Renano Latimis. Reservation required.
Signature wines: Ronco Del Gelso Pinot Grigio Sot Lis Rivis, Ronco Del Gelso Friulano Toc Bas, Ronco Del Gelso Riesling Latimis
Tip: The Riesling Renano Latimis is a rare Friulian dry Riesling; book a tasting against the Pinot Grigio Sot lis Rivis for an unusual Isonzo white flight.
DOC Carso / Venezia Giulia IGTVitovska, Malvasia Istriana, Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Pinot Nero12 haFounded 1980Edi KanteWinemaker Edi KanteORGANIC CERTIFIEDDuino-Aurisina
Edi Kante built his cellar dug 18 metres deep into the Carso limestone at Prepotto-Aurisina starting in 1980, and now anchors the Carso DOC as one of its two reference cellars (alongside Vodopivec).
Tasting: Cellar visit at Prepotto by appointment with a tour of the 18-metre-deep cellar dug into the Carso limestone, a vineyard walk through the Aurisina parcels and a flight of the Vitovska, Malvasia, Chardonnay and Sauvignon. Reservation required.
Signature wines: Kante Vitovska, Kante Malvasia Istriana, Kante Chardonnay, Kante Sauvignon
Tip: The 18-metre cellar tour is the most striking architectural moment in any Carso cellar; ask to see all three excavated levels.
