Medium-term ageing in Friuli-Venezia Giulia

Dry · Full-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Refreshing

Top Collio Sauvignon from Attems. The cellar has been owned by the Marchesi de' Frescobaldi since 2000 and Cicinis is the flagship single-parcel Sauvignon.

Dry · Full-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Contemplative

Late-harvest dry Friulano with brief drying on the vine before harvest. Honey, almond cream and candied citrus over a long saline finish, the most concentrated dry Friulano statement Bastianich makes.

Dry · Full-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Contemplative

Joe Bastianich's flagship white blend (Chardonnay, Sauvignon, dry-vinified Picolit). The Picolit gives the unique wax-and-honey aromatic register. Vespa Bianco was the first wine Joe Bastianich and Lidia Bastianich released after acquiring the Cividale del Friuli estate.

Dry · Full-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Savoury

Field-blend white from organic-biodynamic Borgo San Daniele. Arbis Blanc co-ferments Friulano, Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco and Sauvignon as a single Isonzo terroir statement.

Dry · Full-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Savoury · Refreshing

Friulano from organic-biodynamic Borgo San Daniele at Cormons. The Mauri siblings' Friulano is built on extended lees ageing rather than oak.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Easygoing

Dry Pinot Grigio from organic-biodynamic Borgo San Daniele. The Mauri siblings' Pinot Grigio in stainless steel.

Dry · Full-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Contemplative

Manferrari's barrique Chardonnay Selezione, the estate's oak-led answer to white Burgundy. Vanilla, almond cream and yellow stone fruit over a saline finish.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Elegant

Nicola Manferrari's classical Collio Friulano, with longer lees ageing than the everyday norm. Yellow apple and bitter almond over a saline almond-skin finish with cellar potential.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Refreshing

Manferrari's classical Collio Malvasia Istriana, the indigenous Adriatic-coast white grape vinified with extended lees ageing. Honeysuckle and white pepper aromatics over a saline finish.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · High acidity · Rustic · Savoury

Native Friulian Schioppettino from Bressan. The signature black-pepper bite of the variety is amplified by the cellar's long Slavonian-oak elevage.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Refreshing

Single-parcel Sauvignon from Castello di Spessa at Capriva del Friuli. The castle cellar's flagship Sauvignon from the Santarosa vineyard.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · Racy acidity · Rustic · Savoury

Native Carso Terrano from Castelvecchio. The cellar's red on the iron-rich karst soils.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Savoury

Native Carso Vitovska from Castelvecchio at Sagrado. The cellar bottles Vitovska without skin contact, showing the variety's clean saline-mineral side.

Dry · Full-bodied · Medium tannin · High acidity · Contemplative · Savoury

The estate's Friulian field-blend orange wine of Chardonnay, Malvasia Istriana and Friulano. Yellow apple and almond aromatics over a tea-tannin saline finish.

Dry · Full-bodied · Medium tannin · High acidity · Contemplative · Savoury

Single-variety Malvasia Istriana with the estate's signature two-month skin contact. Honeysuckle and white pepper aromatics over a tea-tannin saline finish.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Elegant

Doro Princic's textbook traditional Collio Friulano. Yellow apple and bitter almond aromatics over a saline almond-skin finish, often cited as the most reference of reference Friulanos.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Refreshing

Princic's classical Collio Malvasia Istriana, the indigenous Adriatic-coast white grape vinified in stainless steel. Honeysuckle and white pepper aromatics over a saline finish.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Elegant

Princic's textbook Collio Pinot Bianco, yellow apple and almond blossom over a saline finish. Often cited as the most cellar-worthy serious Italian Pinot Bianco alongside Schiopetto.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Elegant

Edi Keber's monovarietal-rejecting flagship: a single Collio Bianco blend of Friulano, Ribolla Gialla and Malvasia Istriana as the only wine the estate releases (since 2010). Yellow apple and white pepper aromatics over a saline finish.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · High acidity · Rustic · Savoury

Native Friulian Refosco from Foffani at Clauiano in the Friuli Aquileia DOC. Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso is named for its red stem; the wine shows the variety's signature violet-and-pepper profile.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Elegant

Franco Toros's Collio Friulano from the Novali holdings above Cormons. Yellow apple and almond blossom over a long saline finish, cellar-worthy in the textbook traditional style.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Bold · Savoury

Franco Toros's serious Collio Merlot with 18-24 months in barrique. Black plum and tobacco over a fine grainy tannin and iron mineral finish.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Elegant

Franco Toros's Collio Pinot Bianco, often cited as one of Italy's most cellar-worthy serious Pinot Bianco bottlings.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Savoury

I Clivi's Collio Friulano from the Brazzano holdings, the estate's DOC Collio sibling to the DOC Friuli Colli Orientali Galea. Old vines and extended lees ageing.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Savoury

Mario and Ferdinando Zanusso's Friulano from old vines at Galea (Corno di Rosazzo). Extended lees ageing in stainless steel with low alcohol; the estate's identity statement for low-intervention Friulian whites.

Dry · Full-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Savoury

Oak-aged Chardonnay from Edi Kante. The variety's Carso expression shows the karst's mineral signature alongside French-oak elevage.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Savoury

Native Carso Malvasia Istriana from Edi Kante. The cellar's Malvasia shows the variety's saline-mineral spine more than its aromatic side.

Dry · Full-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Savoury

Sauvignon from Edi Kante on the Carso plateau. The variety's karst expression shows mineral depth more than aromatic lift.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Refreshing

Native Carso Vitovska from Edi Kante at Duino-Aurisina. Kante's underground three-floor cellar cut into the Carso karst is among Italian winemaking's most distinctive buildings.

Dry · Full-bodied · Medium tannin · High acidity · Contemplative · Savoury

The international-variety field blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon and Pinot Grigio, vinified the La Castellada way with extended skin contact. Yellow plum and dried herbs over a tea-tannin saline finish.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Savoury · Refreshing

Indigenous Friulano with short skin maceration, sold within DOC Collio. Yellow apple and bitter almond aromatics over a saline almond-skin finish.

Dry · Full-bodied · Medium tannin · High acidity · Contemplative · Savoury

The Bensa family's extended-maceration Ribolla, one of the four founding Oslavia orange-wine cellars alongside Gravner, Radikon and Damijan Podversic. Dried apricot, orange peel and almond over a tea-tannin finish.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Bold

The Bensa family Bordeaux blend from the Oslavia ponca slopes. Black plum and leather over an iron mineral core and dusty firm tannin.

Dry · Full-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Contemplative

La Tunella's flagship dry white blend of Friulano and Ribolla Gialla with extended Slavonian oak ageing. Yellow apple, almond cream and a long saline finish.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Elegant

La Tunella's classical Colli Orientali Friulano, yellow apple and bitter almond aromatics over a saline almond-skin finish.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Savoury · Bold

Indigenous Schioppettino with the variety's signature white-and-black-pepper aromatics. La Tunella's Schioppettino is one of the modern references for the revived Friulian indigenous red.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Contemplative

The estate's prestige Friulano named after founder Tullio Zamò, with extended lees ageing in large oak. Yellow apple and almond blossom over a long saline finish.

Dry · Full-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Contemplative

Single-vineyard Friulano from the family's Vigne Cinquant'Anni (50-year-old vines) at Corno di Rosazzo. Yellow apple, almond cream and honey over a saline finish.

Dry · Full-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Refreshing

Aromatic field-blend white from Lis Neris. Pinot Grigio with Traminer Aromatico and Riesling Renano gives the cellar's flagship aromatic style.

Dry · Full-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Savoury

Oak-aged Pinot Grigio from Lis Neris. Gris is the cellar's top Pinot Grigio with partial new-oak elevage, set against the broader Lis Neris Pinot Grigio.

Dry · Full-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Savoury

Oak-aged Chardonnay from Lis Neris. Jurosa is the cellar's top single-parcel Chardonnay with partial new-oak elevage on the lees.

Dry · Full-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Savoury

Oak-aged Sauvignon from Lis Neris. Picol is the cellar's single-parcel Sauvignon with partial new-oak elevage.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Elegant

Livio Felluga's classical Colli Orientali Friulano, yellow apple and bitter almond aromatics over a saline finish. The estate's volume Friulano with the broader Friulian sourcing of the Colli Orientali side.

Dry · Full-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Contemplative

The estate's barrique-led Friulian white, Pinot Bianco-led with a touch of dry-vinified Picolit. Yellow stone fruit and almond cream over a saline finish, the oak-aged counterpart to the stainless-steel Terre Alte.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Savoury

Native Carso Malvasia Istriana from family Lupinc at Prosecco (Trieste).

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Savoury

Native Carso Vitovska from family Lupinc at Prosecco (Trieste). Small Carso producer in the village above Trieste.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Elegant

The classical Collio Friulano from the Marco Felluga estate. Yellow apple and bitter almond aromatics over a saline almond-skin finish.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Elegant

The estate's Collio Bianco field blend (Friulano + Pinot Bianco + Ribolla Gialla) with partial oak ageing. Yellow apple and almond aromatics over a saline finish.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Savoury

Single-parcel Sauvignon from Pierpaolo Pecorari at San Lorenzo Isontino. The cellar's unoaked Sauvignon, sharp and direct.

Dry · Full-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Savoury

Oak-aged Chardonnay from Pierpaolo Pecorari. The Olivers single-parcel cuvée is the cellar's top Chardonnay.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · High acidity · Contemplative · Savoury

Extended-maceration Friulano, deliberately named Jakot (Tokaj spelled backwards) as a protest against the 2008 EU ruling forcing Friulano off the Tokai label. Dried almond and orange zest aromatics with a tea-tannin finish.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Elegant

S Line orange Pinot Grigio (Sivi means 'grey' in Slovenian) with the variety's natural copper hue from skin contact. Pink grapefruit and rose hip aromatics over a saline-edged finish.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Savoury

The entry-tier S Line orange blend (Chardonnay + Friulano) with shorter skin contact than the flagship Ribolla. Yellow apple and white peach over a saline finish with light tannin grip.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Bold · Savoury

Indigenous Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso aged 18 months in barrique. Black plum and violet over a firm grainy tannin.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Elegant

Three-variety Colli Orientali field blend from the Rocca Bernarda holdings. Yellow apple, almond blossom and honeysuckle over a saline finish.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Bold · Savoury

Indigenous Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso from the Rapuzzi family's Cialla holdings, aged in large Slavonian botti rather than barrique. Black plum and tobacco over a fine grainy tannin.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Elegant

Ronchi di Cialla's Ribolla Gialla from the Cialla holdings, in the still-white idiom (no extended skin contact). Yellow apple and almond blossom over a saline finish.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · High acidity · Rustic · Savoury

Native Friulian Schioppettino from Ronchi di Manzano. Schioppettino was nearly extinct in the 1970s before the village of Prepotto saved it; the wine's signature is its black-pepper bite.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Bold · Savoury

The estate's Bordeaux blend named Cjarandon (Friulian for the local plum). Black plum, leather and graphite over a fine grainy tannin.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Savoury

The Coser family's flagship Collio Bianco from the Monte holding above Cormons. Three-variety field blend with yellow apple and honeysuckle aromatics over a saline finish.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Elegant

Classical Collio Friulano from Ronco dei Tassi, yellow apple and bitter almond over a saline almond-skin finish.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · Racy acidity · Refreshing · Elegant

Dry Riesling Renano from Ronco del Gelso at Cormons. Riesling is uncommon in the Isonzo and the cellar's Latimis bottling is a benchmark.

Dry · Full-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Savoury

Single-parcel Pinot Grigio from the Sot Lis Rivis vineyard at Cormons. Giorgio Badin's Ronco del Gelso is the cellar's top Pinot Grigio.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Savoury · Elegant

Single-parcel Friulano from the Toc Bas vineyard at Cormons. Ronco del Gelso's flagship Friulano in stainless steel.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Bold · Savoury

The estate's Bordeaux blend (Merlot + Cabernet Sauvignon) with 18 months in barrique. Black plum and leather over a fine grainy tannin.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Contemplative

Single-vineyard Chardonnay from the Salars cru. Almond cream and yellow stone fruit over a saline finish, in the restrained Friulian Chardonnay idiom rather than the New World oak style.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Savoury

Serena Palazzolo's single-vineyard Friulano from the Sol cru. Yellow apple and almond blossom over a saline finish, the estate's flagship indigenous-variety statement.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Contemplative

The estate's prestige Collio Bianco from the Col Disore cru. Multi-variety field blend with partial oak ageing, the Russiz Superiore flagship since 1997.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Elegant

Russiz Superiore's classical Collio Friulano, vinified in stainless steel since 1967. Yellow apple and bitter almond aromatics over a saline finish, with longer bottle-ageing potential than the Marco Felluga sister bottling.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Elegant

Russiz Superiore's Collio Sauvignon with elderflower and lime zest aromatics over a saline pith finish. The restrained Friulian style, with longer cellar potential than commodity Sauvignon.

Sweet · Full-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Contemplative · Elegant

The estate's late-harvest Verduzzo Friulano, a Friulian sweet-wine tradition. Dried apricot and honey aromatics over a saline-edged finish that keeps the wine off cloying territory.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Elegant

The classical Collio Friulano vinified in stainless steel since the late 1960s. Yellow apple and bitter almond aromatics over a saline almond-skin finish, the textbook reference for modern Friulano.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Contemplative

Schiopetto's prestige Friulano named in tribute to founder Mario Schiopetto, whose late-1960s temperature-controlled white-wine work in Capriva del Friuli set the technical baseline for modern Italian dry whites.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Elegant

The textbook serious Collio Pinot Bianco, vinified in stainless steel since 1965. Yellow apple and almond blossom over a saline almond-pith finish, with the cellar-worthy structure of restrained whites.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Elegant

The reference dry-style Collio Pinot Grigio, vinified in stainless steel since 1965. Pear and almond aromatics over a saline finish, the textbook style for serious Italian Pinot Grigio.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Elegant

The reference Collio Sauvignon, vinified in stainless steel since 1968. Elderflower and lime zest aromatics over a saline pith finish, the textbook restrained Friulian style.

Dry · Full-bodied · Medium tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Funky

Carso field-blend white from Skerk. Ograde co-ferments four white varieties on skins as the cellar's signature blend.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · Racy acidity · Rustic · Savoury

Native Carso Terrano from Skerk. The cellar's red on the iron-rich karst soils.

Dry · Full-bodied · Medium tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Savoury

Native Carso Vitovska from Sandi Skerk at Sgonico. Skerk's underground cellar is cut into the karst rock alongside the neighbouring Zidarich and Vodopivec sites.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Refreshing

Specogna's flagship Friulano, the estate's identity statement from the Rocca Bernarda parcels at Corno di Rosazzo.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Savoury

Dry Malvasia Istriana from Tenuta di Blasig at Ronchi dei Legionari. The cellar is one of the few Friulian estates run by a sole woman, Patrizia Felluga's cousin Elisabetta Bortolotto Sarcinelli.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · High acidity · Rustic · Savoury

Native Friulian Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso from Tenuta di Blasig. The cellar's red anchor.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Bold · Savoury

Indigenous Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso aged 18 months in barrique. Black plum and violet over a firm grainy tannin, the estate's serious Refosco statement.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Elegant

Single-vineyard Friulano from the Ronco delle Cime cru in Dolegna del Collio. Yellow apple and almond blossom over a saline finish, the estate's serious Friulano statement.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Refreshing

The estate's flagship single-vineyard Sauvignon from the Ronco delle Mele cru in Dolegna del Collio. Elderflower and lime zest aromatics over a saline finish, the textbook benchmark for serious Collio Sauvignon.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Elegant

Three-vineyard Pinot Bianco selection (Tre Vignis means three vineyards) from the Venica & Venica holdings. Yellow apple and almond blossom over a saline finish, the estate's serious Pinot Bianco statement.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Refreshing

Single-parcel Chardonnay from the Ciampagnis Vieris vineyard at Mariano del Friuli. Vie di Romans' unoaked Chardonnay reference.

Dry · Full-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Savoury

Single-parcel Pinot Grigio from the Dessimis vineyard at Mariano del Friuli. Vie di Romans builds Pinot Grigio with seriousness rare for the variety.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Refreshing

Single-parcel Malvasia Istriana from Vie di Romans. The cellar's Malvasia bottling shows the variety's signature wild-herb register against an Isonzo-mineral spine.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Refreshing

Field-blend white from Vie di Romans of Malvasia Istriana, Friulano and Riesling. The cellar's signature aromatic blend, designed to highlight Isonzo terroir over single-variety expression.

Dry · Full-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Savoury

Sauvignon from the Vieris parcel at Mariano del Friuli. Gianfranco Gallo's Vie di Romans defined the modern Isonzo white style with extended lees ageing.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Refreshing

Volpe Pasini's single-vineyard Zuc di Volpe Friulano from the south-facing slope at Togliano di Torreano. Yellow apple and almond blossom over a saline finish.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Elegant

Single-vineyard Pinot Bianco from the Zuc di Volpe holdings. Yellow apple and almond blossom over a saline finish.

Dry · Full-bodied · Medium tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Funky

Carso field-blend white from Zidarich. The Prulke blend co-ferments Vitovska, Malvasia Istriana and Sauvignon together on skins.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · Racy acidity · Rustic · Savoury

Native Carso Terrano from Zidarich. Terrano is the Carso's signature red and the wine retains the variety's iron-mineral signature from the karst's red soils.

Dry · Full-bodied · Medium tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Savoury

Native Carso Vitovska from Beniamino Zidarich at Sgonico. Shorter skin contact than Vodopivec gives the wine more freshness, but the orange-wine signature remains.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Refreshing

Zorzettig's prestige MYO Friulano from the Spessa di Cividale holdings. Yellow apple and almond blossom over a saline finish.

Dry · Full-bodied · High tannin · High acidity · Bold · Savoury

Indigenous Tazzelenghe (literally tongue-cutter in Friulian, a reference to the variety's high tannin) from the Spessa di Cividale holdings. Aged 18 months in barrique.