North East Italy: Friuli-Venezia Giulia

Question 1

1) Where is it located?
2) What’s its importance in the overall wine production in Italy?
3) What’s the main wine style produced and what’s the focus of the producers in the region?

Answer 1

1) Northeastern most region in Italy
2) Borders Austria and Slovenia
3) German and Slavic influences
4) Produces 4% of all Italian wines
5) More than 75% of the wine produced is white
6) Concentrates on high quality, single vineyard wines

Question 2

What are the environmental conditions / grape growing conditions in the South x North, with resulting volume and quality of wines produced?

Answer 2

1) High rainfall
2) In the south:
a) Vineyards are planted on alluvial soils and rocky deposits
b) Mostly volume wines are produced here (Friuli Insonzo DOC is an exception)
c) Yields are typically high
3) In the north:
a) Vineyards planted on gentle hillsides (up to 200m ASL)
b) Soils: calcareous marl and sandstone
c) Lower yields (well drained, poorer soils) and greater costs (elevation - hand harvesting)

Question 3

1) What’s the most planted variety (besides Glera)?
2) Local varieties (White and Black)?
3) Austrian / Middle European varieties?
4) Franch varieties?

Answer 3

1) Pinot Grigio makes up 25% of all the vineyard planted
2) Local varieties:
a) Pinot Grigio, Ribola Gialla, Malvasia, Verduzzo and Picolit.
b) Black varieties: Refosco, Schiopettino, Pignolo and Tazzalanghe
3) Austrian / Middle Europe: Riesling, WelscRiesling, Gewurstraminer, Muller-Thurgau, Blaufrankish.
4) French varieties: White = Sauvignonasse, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc; Black = Merlot, Cabs Franc & Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Carmeniere

Question 4

Describe:

1) Friualno’s viticultural characteristics
2) How the wines taste like
3) How it’s normally made
4) Quality and price levels

Answer 4

1) White grape variety, formerly known as Tocai Friulano
2) Also known as Sauvignonasse
3) Good disease resistance
4) Wines are: med(-) floral and apple aromas, med to high alc and med acidity.
5) Typically vinified in stainless steel or lightly oaked
6) Quality: good to v good
7) Price: mid priced to premium

Question 5

1) Where is it grown?
2) Viticultural aspects?
3) What wine styles can be made from this grape?
4) What do the wines generally taste like?

Answer 5

1) Only grown in Collio and Colli Orientali DOC’s
2) Very vigorous: needs to be grown in poorer, well drained soils to contain vigour (hillsides)
3) Prone to millerandage
4) Diversity of styles produced: stainless steel fermented; oak-aged, Charmat, dry or off dry, extended skin contact for orange wines, amphora.
5) Wines have citrus & pepper notes, with high acid

Question 6

1) How commonly planted is this variety?
2) Viticultural characteristics?
3) What do these wines taste like?

Answer 6

1) Most planted of the black varieties
2) Vigorous varity (needs to be grown in poorer, well-drained soils - hillside locations)
3) Red wines produced have cherry flavours, herbal notes and high tannins (usually needs oaks for smoothing out)

Question 7

1) What were the main changes introduced to the region from 1960 onwards and what are the current trends / experimentation in winemaking in the region?

Answer 7

1) Great changes form 1960 onwards, by borrowing from German expertise: stainless steel, temp controlled fermenters, cultivated yeasts, pneumatic presses
2) In recent decades: late harvesting, skin maceration, lees stirring and use of oak

Question 8

1) This region has become a centre for orange wine production; which subregion?
2) How are these wines made?
3) What do these wines look, smell and taste like?
4) How are these wines priced?

Answer 8

1) Friuli is a centre for production of orange wine (mainly produced in Oslavia, Colli DOC)
2) Long maceration: from 8 days up to 6-8 months
3) Long barrel ageing: 2-6 years in large format
4) The resulting wines are amber in colour, pronounced aromas of citrus rind, marzipan, honey, muted varietal character and medium tannins.
5) These wines are premium priced.

Question 9

1) What are the 2 most important denominations in the region?
2) What’s the style of wine produced in the region?
3) What’s Colli Orientali del Friuli Picolit DOCG?
4) What’s Ramadolo DOCG?

Answer 9

1) 2 most important: Collio and Colli Orientali DOC’s
2) Share similar characteristics, divided by political history (Colli Orientali joined Italy in 1914)
3) Collio is in the process of becoming DOCG
4) Single variety whites: Ribolla Gialla, Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay
5) 18 varieties are permitted here
6) Two sweet wines denominations:
a) Colli Orientali del Friuli Picolit DOCG: made from air-dried Picolit grapes, once a competitor to Tokaj.
b) Ramandolo DOCG: made from air-dried Verduzzo grapes.

Question 10

1) In which segments of the domestic market are Friulian Wines more popular?
2) Where there any growths in export and why?
3) New trends?

Answer 10

1) Has a good reputation in restaurants/ specialist retail markets
2) Exports grew 50% (by value) between 2012 - 2017, partially due to the popularity of Pinot Grigio / Prosecco
3) It’s promoting more red wines due to the competition on the white wines sector from Trentino- Alto Adige