Wine in Manzano, Friuli-Venezia Giulia

Livio Felluga ★ 4.9

Founded in 1956 by Livio Felluga at Brazzano (Cormons), and now run by Livio's four children Maurizio, Filippo, Elda and Andrea Felluga. The estate farms approximately 165 hectares across the Colli Orientali, the Rosazzo ridge and the Collio. Terre Alte, the DOCG Rosazzo blend of Friulano, Pinot Bianco and Sauvignon, is the Friulian icon; the Picolit DOCG and the Sossó Refosco anchor the sweet and red ranges. The estate has been certified organic since the 2020s.

Tasting: Cellar visit at Brazzano by appointment with a vineyard walk through the Rosazzo and Brazzano parcels, a Terre Alte flight (the iconic DOCG Rosazzo blend) and a tasting of the Picolit DOCG when bottled. The Friuli wine resort on-site offers extended stays.

Signature wines: livio-felluga-terre-alte, livio-felluga-illivio, livio-felluga-friulano, livio-felluga-picolit, livio-felluga-sossó-refosco

Tip: The Friuli wine resort at the estate doubles as the visit base; book a vertical Terre Alte tasting paired with frico at the resort restaurant.

Ronco del Gnemiz ★ 4.7

Ronco del Gnemiz farms 12 hectares on the Colli Orientali ridge around San Giovanni al Natisone and Manzano, on ponca soils. Serena Palazzolo took over the family cellar in the late 2000s with consulting from Christian Patat (formerly of Miani) and has pushed the cellar toward parcel-level bottlings of Friulano and Chardonnay aged in large oak. The wines are bottled in small batches and released late.

Tasting: Cellar visit by appointment at San Giovanni al Natisone with a vineyard walk through the Ronco del Gnemiz parcels and a flight of the single-parcel Chardonnay, Friulano and the cellar's Riservas.

Signature wines: ronco-del-gnemiz-friulano, ronco-del-gnemiz-chardonnay-il-roccolo, ronco-del-gnemiz-sauvignon

Tip: The single-parcel Chardonnay Il Roccolo is the cellar's library cuvée; ask for a back-vintage tasting alongside the Friulano.

Ronchi di Manzano ★ 4.5

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.

Livio Felluga ★ 4.7

Livio Felluga at Brazzano di Cormons farms its Colli Orientali parcels organically across Rosazzo, Manzano, Buttrio and Cividale. The cellar founded by Livio Felluga (older brother of Marco) bottles the Terre Alte flagship Rosazzo blend and the Picolit DOCG half-bottle as its prestige expressions.

Tip: Pair the Friulano with the cellar's Picolit DOCG half-bottle; the cellar bottles both as flagship Colli Orientali expressions.