Friuli/Venezia-Giulia

Wine-growing region (ital. Friuli-Venezia Giulia) in the extreme north-east of Italy, the principal city is Triest, it borders on Austria in the north, and on Slovenia in the east. The region is often referred to briefly as Friuli, the total vineyard area is 18.704 hectares. This area has always been a border area, and has been ruled at various times by Rome, Byzance, Venice and the Habsburg monarchy. Romans founded the colony of Aquilieia in 181 BC, bringing their wine culture with them. They found that the Celts in the region had already started their own viticulture, which was then further developed by the Romans, as is evidenced by numerous archaeological findings. Julius Caesar (100-44 BC) expanded the Roman sphere of influence, and the name Giulia refers back to him. He founded the city of Forum Iulii in 53 BC, today known as Cividale, from which Friuli developed in the course of time. The Greek author Strabo (63 BC - 28 AD) reports that the fertile plains around the famous city of Aquileia produced such copious quantities of wine that the neighbouring tribes (Carnians, Japydians, Pannonians and Illyrians) came to Aquileia to buy wine. And the elder Pliny (23-79 AD) writes of a wine called Pucinum, which was supplied to the court of emperor Augustus (63 BC - 14 AD). Aquileia is still in existence today, at the time it was the second most important city in the empire after Rome, as it was strategically located to control all the trading routes to the north. The western section was conquered by Venice in the 15th century, while the eastern section around the town of Goriza, separated by the Judrio river, was ruled by the Habsburg emperors. This separation still has its effects today, with the western areas being dominated by red wines, while the eastern areas produce mainly white wines.

Until the mid-1960’s, mainly red wine was produced in Friuli (80%, predominantly Merlot), however the introduction of modern cellar techniques, such as temperature-controlled fermentation, a technology imported from Germany, has converted the area to being the centre of white wine production in Italy, in just one generation. The full-bodied white wines are considered to be the best in Italy. Thousands of hectares planted with indigenous varieties were uprooted, and replanted with international varieties. By far the most widely planted variety remains the indigenous Tocai Friulano, followed by Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Riesling Italico, Riesling Renano, Traminer, Müller-Thurgau, Verduzzo, Ribolla Gialla and Malvasia. Among the red varieties, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Nero, Ribolla Nera (Schioppettino), Pignolo and Refosco dominate. Friuli plays a leading role in vine breeding, more than half the young vines planted in Italy come from here. DOC wines account for around 45% of total production. Ramandolo, a sub-section of the Colli Orientali, was the first wine in Friuli to receive a DOCG classification in 2001. The DOC resp. DOCG zones are:

* Carso
* Colli Orientali del Friuli
* Colli Orientali di Friuli Picolit (DOCG)
* Collio Goriziano
* Friuli Annia
* Friuli Aquileia
* Friuli Grave
* Friuli Isonzo
* Friuli Latisana
* Lison-Pramaggiore (also Venezia)
* Ramandolo (DOCG)