Friuli/Venezia-Giulia

DOC (laso known as Grave del Friuli) for a wide range of red, rosé and white wines in the Friuli-Giulia-Venezia wine-growing region in Italy. The zone includes an area through which many rivers run, with around 100 communes in the provinces of Pordenone and Udine. As is the case with Graves in Bordeaux, the name is derived from the predominant alluvial soil, with a high gravel and rock content, found in the vallies of the Judrio, Livenza, Meduna, Natisone, Tagliamento and Torre rivers. It is the largest DOC in the region, with a total vineyard area of around 6.500 hectares, around two thirds of the total production and around half the production of DOC wines in this region come from this DOC. The area stretches from the plains on the Livenza river (bordering river with the neighbouring Veneto region) to the DOC Colli Orientali del Friuli, which it borders in the east. The eastern section is cooler and has higher rainfall than the western section, which has a maritime climate. The vest wines are from the broad river valley of the Tagliamento river, which has poor, gravelly soils called "magredi". This area includes the triangle of Spilimbergo, Bertiolo and Carsarsa, on the west bank close to Barbiano, San Giorgio della Richinvelda, San Martino, Rauscedo and Tauriano, as well as Bertiolo, Codroipo and Rivolto on the east bank.

Varietal-labelled wines must contain a minimum of 90% of the stated variety, the remaining 10% may be made up of other permitted varieties of the same colour. The wines are: Cabernet (from Cabernet Franc and/or Cabernet Sauvignon), Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Nero, Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso, Riesling (Riesling Renano) Sauvignon, Tocai Friulano, Traminer Aromatico and Verduzzo Friulano. The Bianco is a blend made from any combination of Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Riesling Renano, Sauvignon and Verduzzo Friulano. Rosso (also as a Novello) and Rosato are blends made from any combination of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Nero and Refosco. Some of these wines are also made in Frizzante and/or Spumante versions, and also as Superiore (higher alcohol) and Riserva (matured for longer) variants. All of the wines are made in dry (secco) style, some also in semi-sweet (amabile) and sweet (dolce) styles. Very similar wine styles are made in the neighbouring DOC zones Friuli Annia, Friuli Aquileia, Friuli Isonzo and Friuli Latisana.