Friuli-Venezia Giulia wine

Coordinates: 45°38′28″N 13°48′25″E / 45.6410°N 13.8070°E / 45.6410; 13.8070
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Friuli-Venezia Giulia

Friuli-Venezia Giulia wine (or Friuli wine) is

Piedmont as Italy's world class wine regions.[2]

History

The winemaking history of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia has been strongly influenced by the history of the Friuli and Venezia Giulia regions, that were important stops along the Mediterranean spice route from the Byzantine Empire to the trading center of Venice. During the Middle Ages, travelers passing through this area brought grapevines from Macedonia and Anatolia. Under the Habsburg reign, the French grape varieties were introduced.[3] Prior to the phylloxera epidemic, over 350 grape varieties were grown in the region.

Following the phylloxera epidemic of the 19th century, winemaking in the Friuli region was very muted and did not begin to garner much attention till the 1970s.

négociant-like wineries that would blend the grapes together. With the success of Mario Schiopetto in bottling and marketing the product of his own vineyard, other vineyard owners followed suit and began opening up small wineries of their own.[1]

Climate and geography

Monte Toc along the border between Friuli-Venezia Giulia and the Veneto

The Friuli-Venezia Giulia region is bordered by the Alps to the north separating it from Austria. Slovenia borders the region on the east and the Italian region of Veneto forms the western border and part of the southern border with the Adriatic Sea.[1] The northern half is very mountainous and gives way to flatter terrain and plains on the way to the sea. The climate is distinguished with very warm days and chilly nights, that help maintain a balance in the grape between acidity and sugar levels and allows the grapes a long, slow growing season.[2] In summertime the mean temperature is around 73 °F (22.8 °C) with rainfall averaging 60 inches (1,530 mm). Harvest normally takes place in September.[4] The soils of the region vary from the calcium rich marl and flysch sandstone in the more hilly regions to clay, sand and gravel in the valley. The names of Friuli vineyards and wine estates often include the word ronco (plural ronchi), which is the Friulian word for a terraced hillside.[2]

Wine regions

Approximate location of the wine regions of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia

Most of the vineyards of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia are located in the southern half of the region, including the large wine regions of

spumante styles are produced from Chardonnay, Pinot bianco, Pinot grigio, Friulano and Verduzzo.[1]

Collio and Colli Orientali del Friuli

The southeast province of

bodied and rich, made as a varietal or blend of Friulano, Ribolla Gialla, Malvasia Istriana, Chardonnay, Pinot bianco, Pinot grigio and Sauvignon blanc. Red wine under the designation Collio Rosso is made from a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. The general Collio Bianco designation can also include the white grapes Müller-Thurgau, Picolit, Riesling, Traminer and Welschriesling, as well as the white juice from the red wine grapes of Cabernet Sauvignon and pinot noir.[1]

Located to the northwest of the Collio Goriziano, the Colli Orientali del Friuli DOC shares similar vineyard soils and climate as the Collio region. The grape varieties are also similar, though Ribolla Gialla and Picolit takes a more prominent role, here as does the local grape Verduzzo. The three grapes are used to make varietal wines under the Colli Orientali del Friuli DOC. Picolit is known particularly for the quality of the dessert wine it produces and has 2 DOCG dedicated to its production in Udine. Red wine production is also more prominent in this region, though it is still less than half the production of white wine. The red wines include varietal forms of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as red wines made from the local Pignolo, Refosco, Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso, Schioppettino and Tazzelenghe. The region is divided into 3 sub districts which include Ramandolo in the north and the DOCG of the same name, as well as the dessert wine Verduzzo di Ramandolo. In the center of the zone is the Cialla district, which makes dry wines under the designation Cialla Bianco and Cialla Rosso, as well as sweet and off dry wines made from Picolit and Verduzzo. Other notable wines from this district include Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso and Cialla Schioppettino. The far southern district is the Corno di Rosazzo, which is heavily planted with Ribolla Gialla, that is believed to have originated in the vineyards of the local abbey over 1,000 years ago. The area is also known for its off-dry to sweet Rosazzo Picolit and dry Rosazzo Pignolo.[1]

Isonzo and Carso

The Gulf of Trieste borders the western half of the Carso wine region and the southern portion of Isonzo.

The Isonzo and Carso wine regions are located in the far southeastern part of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, bordering Slovenia. The Isonzo region is located on a plain of alluvial deposits directly south of Collio, along the

maritime climate with more rainfall than other Friuli regions. The region is known for its sparkling Pinot bianco as well as dry white wines made from Chardonnay, Malvasia Istriana and Sauvignon blanc. Other Isonzo DOC designated wines include dry, off dry and sparkling wines made from Gewürztraminer, Cabernet franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Franconia, Moscato Giallo, Moscato Rosa, Pinot grigio, Pinot nero, Refosco, Riesling, Schioppettino, Friulano, Verduzzo and Welschriesling. The Vendemmia Tardiva is a late harvest wine made from a varietal style or blend of Chardonnay, Pinot bianco, Friulano and Verduzzo.[1]

Located south of the Isonzo zone, near the city of

food pairing with Slavic cuisine. The white wines made from the Malvasia Istriana are highly regarded for their honey-almond notes. Other Carso wines can be made from the following grapes; Vitovska, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot grigio, Sauvignon blanc, Traminer[1] and Piccola nera.[5]

Viticulture and winemaking

A glass of Refosco from Friuli

The best vineyards in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia are located on the south facing slopes of the Alps foothills, in the southern part of the region, where they can benefit from the most direct sunlight to go along with the night-time cool breezes from the Adriatic.[2] The vineyard yields of the Friuli are among the lowest in Italy averaging 3.5 tons an acre. This is a result of the Friuli quest for high quality over quantity in their wines and also a reason why these wines tend to be more costly than other Italian whites.[1]

While white wine dominates Friuli wine production, nearly 40% of the production is red with Merlot being the leading red wine grape. In the 1960s, winemakers of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia pioneered modern techniques for white

Alsatians and winemakers of the Loire Valley than their counterparts in Burgundy, Spain and other parts of Italy.[2]

From the mid 1990s

amber wine production in the Friuli, which involves leaving the white wine grapes in extended maceration with their grape skins. The resulting wines have a hint of color pigments that give them an orange hue.[8]

Grapes and wines

Over 30 different grapes varieties are grown in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia, including

mutations which cause the vine to lose its flowers and grape clusters. In most years, less than half of a vineyard Picolit crop will survive and be able to make wine. The light, honeyed dessert wine that it can produce is often in high demand because of restricted supply.[2]

Along with the internationally styled Merlots, Friuli produces some distinctive red wines from the local grape varieties. Tazzelenghe (meaning "tonguecutter") produces a very

ripe fruit flavors. The best known local red wine variety is the Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso (different from regular Refosco), which produces a herbal full-bodied wine that ages well.[6] Refosco is noted for its high acidity with blueberry and blackberry notes.[2]

In 2008, DNA analysis showed that the Friuli table grape Refosco di Guarnieri was identical to the Venetian wine grape Trevisana nera.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 0-7645-5355-0
    .
  2. ^
    ISBN 1-56305-434-5
    .
  3. ^
    ISBN 0-19-860990-6
    .
  4. ISBN 1-84000-332-4
    .
  5. ISBN 978-1-846-14446-2
    .
  6. ^
    ISBN 1-74048-050-3
    .
  7. ^ S. Woolf "Orange wines - it's time to get in touch", Decanter, May 12, 2015
  8. ^ J. Bonne "Soaking white grapes in skins is orange crush", San Francisco Chronicle, October 11, 2009
  9. ISBN 978-1-846-14446-2
    .

External links

45°38′28″N 13°48′25″E / 45.6410°N 13.8070°E / 45.6410; 13.8070

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