Friuli

Question 1

Where is Friuli located?

Answer 1

Northeast Italy along the borders with Slovenia and Austria.

Venezia Giulia, the area with which Friuli shares government administration, is the area on the east of the Adriatic around Trieste. Friuli is the rest of the province.

Question 2

What is the focus of wine production in Friuli?

Answer 2

White varietal wines.

White wines make up 75% of regional production.

Question 3

What is the geography of Friuli? How does this affect the climate?

Answer 3

It includes flat plains in the south along the coast. To the north are low rolling hills with less Adriatic influence and stronger cooling influences.

Question 4

How much annual rainfall does Friuli experience? How does this affect viticulture?

Answer 4

1,200 mm

Extra work is needed in the vineyard to prevent disease. Organic viticulture is difficult to achieve.

Question 5

Friuli can be divided into two regions for winemaking style and quality. What are they?

Answer 5

The plains where high yields and lower quality wines can be found.

The hills, a source for better quality wines.

Question 6

What types of wines are produced in the plains of Friuli? What are the most important denominations?

Answer 6

Primarily everyday Pinot Grigio and Merlot based wines.

Grave del Friuli DOC (volume wines) and Friuli Isonzo DOC (better quality sites from the Isonzo river, near Collio) are the most significant denominations

Question 7

Where do the higher quality wines of Friuli come from? What type of soil is found there?

Answer 7

Hillside sites towards the north of the region, specifically Collio DOC and Colli Orientali del Friuli DOCG.

Calcareous marl and sandstone, as well as ponca, a compacted marl with excellent drainage

Question 8

What is the altitude of high quality vineyards in Friuli? How does this affect the grape quality there?

Answer 8

Altitude in the hills of Friuli is only 200 m ASL, so it plays little role. The soils, slopes, and exposure to cool winds reduce yields and increase quality.

Question 9

What is Ponca?

Answer 9

A compacted marl soil common to the hills of Friuli. It has excellent drainage and contains some marine fossils from an ancient seabed.

Question 10

What are the six most planted varieties in Friuli?

Answer 10

Pinot Grigio
Merlot
Friulano
Chardonnay
Sauvignon Blanc
Cabernet Franc

Question 11

What variety comprises 25% of total vineyard area in Friuli?

Answer 11

Pinot Grigio

Question 12

Describe the history of the name Friulano.

Answer 12

The grape was formerly named Tocai Friulano in Friuli, but the name was changed when Tokaj was established as an EU recognized IP. The name was changed to Friulano, though it is also known as Sauvignonasse and Sauvignon Vert.

Question 13

Why is Friulano successful in Friuli?

Answer 13

It is disease resistant, which is important in a region that receives 1,200 mm of rainfall per year.

Question 14

What types of wines are made with Friulano in Friuli? What is their typical quality and pricing?

Answer 14

Dry white wines made in stainless steel or lightly oaked, the best of which can age.

They are usually good to very good and mid to premium priced.

Question 15

Where is Ribolla Gialla grown in Friuli? Why?

Answer 15

In hillside sites, specifically Collio and Colli Orientali. It is a vigorous variety and the hillsides discourage vigor.

Question 16

What styles of wine are used in Friuli when working with Ribolla Gialla?

Answer 16

A full range of wines including dry, off dry, white, orange, stainless, amphora, and oak aged.

Question 17

Where in Friuli does Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso perform best? Why?

Answer 17

On hillside sites. It is a vigorous variety and requires lower fertility soils to keep its vigor in check.

Question 18

Is Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso an early, mid, or late ripening variety? Is it susceptible to botrytis? How does this affect its cultivation in Friuli?

Answer 18

Refosco is a late ripening variety with resistance to botrytis. As such it can be manipulated with little pesticide but requires manual viticultural work due to its vigor.

Question 19

What types of wines are made with Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso in Friuli? Why?

Answer 19

Tannic red wines with red cherry and herbal aromas that require time in oak to smooth out. Refosco berries are small and high in tannins, leaving considerable tannic content after fermentation.

Question 20

What types of wines are popular in Friuli? From whom and how did they originate?

Answer 20

Clean, unoaked white wines drawing on German technical expertise. These were introduced by Mario Schiopetto in the 1960s.

Orange wines produced in traditional methods led by Josko Gravner, Dario Prinĉiĉ, and Stanko Radikon.

Question 21

Describe the general practices for white winemaking in Friuli.

Answer 21

Pneumatic pressing, cultivated yeasts, temperature control, stainless steel.

Some experimentation with late harvest fruit, lees stirring, maceration, and oak has occurred in recent decades.

Question 22

Describe the general orange winemaking practices in Friuli.

Answer 22

Long maceration of white varieties from 8 days to 6-8 months, maturation for 2-4 years in oak barrels or other vessels (amphora)

Question 23

Which small. area of Friuli is known is considered the center of orange wine production?

Answer 23

Oslava, a subzone of Collio neighboring Brda, Slovenia.

Question 24

What growing and winemaking practices are shared by Gravner, Princic, and Radikon?

Answer 24

Organic viticulture
The use of local and international varieties
Long maceration
No temperature control
Long maturation without fining or filtration
Minimal or no added SO2

Question 25

What is the typical character of Fruili orange wines?

Answer 25

Amber, orange, or gold color

Medium tannins

Pronounced aromas of citrus rind, marzipan, and honey with a muted varietal character

Question 26

What are the two most important denominations in Friuli? What types of wines do they produce?

Answer 26

Collio DOC and Colli Orientali del Friuli DOCG.

The important wines produced here are dry, varietal white wines made from Friulano, Ribolla Gialla, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay.

Question 27

How are wines from Friuli labeled so as to inform the consumer as to what they are buying?

Answer 27

The wines are labeled with the DOC name and can also be labeled with the varietal. For instance, Colli Orientali del Friuli Sauvignon Blanc.

Question 28

What are the two denominations in Friuli for sweet wines? How are they produced

Answer 28

Colli Orientali del Friuli Picolit DOCG is produced from appassimento Picolit grapes

Ramandolo DOCG is made with appassimento Verduzzo grapes

Question 29

What is difficult about the production of Colli Orientali del Friuli Picolit DOCG wines?

Answer 29

Picolit is a difficult variety to cultivate. There will sometimes only be 10-15 berries in a bunch due to fruit set issues.

Question 30

True or False

The province of Friuli, like Piemonte, has a DOC for wines made anywhere in the state.

Answer 30

True

Question 31

How can Pinot Grigio grown in Friuli (but not in a more specific denomination) be labeled?

Answer 31

Friuli Pinot Grigio DOC

Pinot Grigio delle Venezie DOC (More info on this in Veneto section)

Question 32

What is the reputation of Friuli wines in the Italian market?

Answer 32

They are highly regarded in the restaurant and specialist retail sector.

They are also successful in competitions such as Gambero Rosso.

Question 33

How have exports of Friuli wine trended from 2012 to 2017? What effect has this had?

Answer 33

Exports have grown 50% from 2012-2017, partly due to the increase in popularity of Prosecco and Pinot Grigio. White wines continue to be the specialty of the region, but competition in that market from other Italian states and international producers have increased focus on red wine promotion.