Friuli Venezia Giulia
F.V.G average annual wine production of 110 million litres (12th in volume among the regions) includes 65% DOC/DOCG and 20% IGT. White wine accounts for about 60% of Friuli’s production.
The compact region of FVG, overlooking the northern Adriatic Sea with borders on Austria and Slovenia continues to set the pace with modern Italian white wine. Drawing from worthy native varieties and the choicest of the international array, Friulans have applied studied vineyard techniques and avantgarde enology to the production of highly distinctive whites, as well as some eminently attractive reds.
Friuli has 2 DOC zones of outstanding class in Collio Goriziano or simply Collio, and Colli Orientali del Friuli, adjacent areas that follow the border of Slovenia from Gorizia west and northwest to Tarcento. Singled out for DOCG status are two rare and coveted sweet white wines: Ramandolo, from the Verduzzo grape grown a village north of Udine, and the legendary Picolit of Colli Orientali. Carso is a unique zone in the hills above the seaport and regional capital of Trieste. The other DOC zones called Friuli Grave, Friuli Isonzo, Friuli Aquileia, Friuli Annia and Friuli Latisana cover low hills or plains. Yet quality there can be convincing, notably from Isonzo, which rivals Collio and Colli Orientali for the class of certain wines. Grave, the region’s largest and most productive zone, also produces wines of distinction.
Friuli whites had long been dominated by Tocai Friulano, a variety related to Sauvignon Vert or Sauvignonasse. But a European court ruled that Tocai must use another name so as not to be confused with the Tokay of Hungay, which is the name of a wine but not a vine. Friulano was the name they reluctantly adopted, while the varieties formerly known as Tocai Italico and Tocai Rosso have become Tai and Tai Rosso.
Friuli’s reds were traditionally light and fruity, best to drink within two to five years of the harvest. That style applied to the predominant Merlot and Cabernet Franc, as well as to Pinot Nero and the worthy native variety of Refosco. But many winemakers have heightened structure and nuance by blending Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and other varieties and aging the wine in oak barrels. Friulans have shown an encouraging tendency to revive varieties that had been neglected. Foremost among the legends is Picolit, a white that ranked as one of Europe’s finest sweet wines around 1800, when it was favoured by the Hapsburgs and other royal families. IGT: Alto Livenza, Venezia Giulia, Venezie or Delle Venezie. DOCG: Colli Orientali del Friuli Picolit, Cialla Picolit, Ramandolo. DOC: Carso, Colli Orientali del Friuli, Collio Goriziano, Friuli Annia, Friuli Aquileia, Friuli Grave, Friuli Isonzo or Isonzo del Friuli, Friuli Latisana, Lison- Prmaggiore (shared with Veneto), Prosecco (shared with Veneto).