Friuli/Venezia-Giulia

DOC (also Collio for short) for a wide range of red and white wines in the Friuli-Giulia-Venezia wine-growing region in Italy. The name translates as “hills of Goriziono“. The zone includes the communes of Capriva del Friuli, Cormons, Dolegna del Collio, Farra Isonzo, Gorizia, Mossa, San Floriano del Collio and San Lorenzo Isontino in the province of Gorizia. In the north, it borders on the DOC Colli Orientali del Friuli in the province of Udine, the Judrio river marks the border between the two regions. The total vineyard area is around 1.500 hectares, stretched out over the hills between the Judrio and Isonzo rivers in the west up to the border with Slovenia in the east. Both regions are similar geologically and in the types of wines they produce, and were formerly part of the Habsburg empire in Austria. Whereas Udine became part of Italy in 1866, Gorizia was only joined to Italy after the First World War, in the early 1920’s. The soils are limestone-rich marl with a very high mineral content. This is called „Flysch di Cormons“ after one of the communes. 80% of the production is of aromatic white wines. Pinot Grigio, in particular, attracted international attention from the 1980’s on, and laid the foundation for the fame of the region’s white wines. By far the most widely planted variety is the white Tocai Friulano, followed by Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, among the red varieties, Merlot and Cabernet Franc dominate. The varietal-labelled wines must contain a minimum of 85% of the stated variety, the remaining 15% may be made up of other permitted varieties of the same colour. These are the wines: Cabernet (from Cabernet Franc and/or Cabernet Sauvignon), Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Malvasia, Merlot, Müller-Thurgau, Picolit, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Nero, Ribolla or Ribolla Gialla, Riesling (from Riesling Renano), Riesling Italico, Sauvignon, Tocai Friulano and Traminer Aromatico. The Bianco is usually a blend, made from any combination of Chardonnay, Malvasia Istriana, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Ribolla Gialla and Riesling Italico, Riesling Renano, Sauvignon and Tocai Friulano (80-100%), as well as optionally from other permitted white varieties (up to 20%). There is no Rosato. The Rosso is usually a blend, made from one or more permitted red varieties. All wines are produced in a dry (secco) version, some are also made in semi-sweet (amabile) and sweet (dolce) versions. Many are also available in Superiore (with higher minimum alcohol content) and Riserva (matured for longer) versions. An original wine from the commune of Cormons is the VdT Vino della Pace (wine of peace) made from 400 grape varieties. Well-known producers include Branko, Livon, Marco Felluga, Movia (Slovenia), Primosic, Ronco dei Tassi, Venica & Venica, Villanova and Villa Russiz.