DOC CarsoVitovska, Malvasia Istriana, Sauvignon, Pinot Grigio, Terrano10 haFounded 1968Skerk family (Sandi Skerk)Winemaker Sandi SkerkBiodynamic PracticingORGANIC CERTIFIEDSgonico
Sandi Skerk runs the family cellar at Prepotto di Sgonico, founded in 1968. The 10 hectares on the Carso plateau feed Vitovska, Malvasia, Sauvignon and Pinot Grigio (all fermented on skins) plus the Terrano red.
Tasting: Cellar visit at Prepotto by appointment with a tour of the limestone-excavated cellar and a flight of the Vitovska, Malvasia, Ograde (the cellar's field blend) and Terrano. The on-site osmiza (the Carso seasonal farm tavern) serves karst plates with the wines.
Signature wines: Skerk Vitovska, Skerk Ograde, Skerk Malvasia, Skerk Terrano
Tip: Time a visit with one of the cellar's osmiza weekends to taste the wines alongside Carso prosciutto, jota soup and frico.
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.
DOC CarsoVitovska, Malvasia Istriana, Glera, Terrano6 haFounded 1990Lupinc family (Matej Lupinc)ORGANIC CERTIFIEDduino-aurisina
Matej Lupinc runs the small family cellar at Prosecco, the Carso village above Trieste whose name famously predates the Glera-grape sparkling Prosecco of the Veneto.
Tasting: Cellar visit at Prosecco by appointment with a vineyard walk through the Carso parcels above Trieste and a flight of the Vitovska, Malvasia and Glera bottlings. The cellar's osmiza runs at the Carso seasonal calendar.
Signature wines: Lupinc Vitovska, Lupinc Malvasia Istriana, Lupinc Glera Sui Lieviti
Tip: The Glera sui lieviti bottling is one of the few Glera wines from the Carso village of Prosecco itself; the cellar serves it during the osmiza weekends.
DOC Friuli Colli Orientali / DOCG Colli Orientali del Friuli PicolitFriulano, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon, Ribolla Gialla, Schioppettino, Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso, Picolit50 haFounded 1969Roberta BorgheseWinemaker Roberta Borghesemanzano
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.
DOC CollioPinot Grigio, Sauvignon, Friulano, Ribolla Gialla, Chardonnay45 haFounded 1106Frescobaldi family (Marchesi Frescobaldi group)san-floriano-del-collio
Attems traces to 1106 as a noble Friulian family estate. Marchesi Frescobaldi acquired the operation in 2000 and has invested in the Lucinico cellar and Collio parcels since.
Tasting: Estate visit at Lucinico by appointment with a vineyard walk through the Collio parcels and a flight of the Cicinis Sauvignon, Pinot Grigio Ramato and the Sauvignon DOC Collio. Reservation required.
Signature wines: Attems Cicinis, Attems Pinot Grigio Ramato, Attems Sauvignon
Tip: The Pinot Grigio Ramato is a worthwhile gateway to the Friulian skin-contact tradition without the full orange-wine commitment; pair it with the Friulian frico.
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.
