WINES OF FRIULI-VENEZIA GIULIA

A range of high mountains surround the region similar to an arch in the north, while the south is surrounded by the warm waters of the Adriatic Sea. The mountains dist from the sea about 100 km. This circumstance favours a unique climate and the entire geo-pedagogical environment for the equilibrium of the temperature, the rain, the humidity, for the land structure, for the luminosity and the climatic changes. For a pleasurable coincidence of all of these factors, the area is highly adapted for the vine cultivation.

The wines from Friuli and Venezia Giulia are, in fact, internationally awarded and acknowledged and received their great prestige by a continuous evolution and a particular predilection for its kind of cultivation. Indeed we can speak today of authentic Friuli oenological style, thanks to the exaltation of the aromatic fragrance of these peculiar kinds of wines, the great variety of selection, the constant experimentation and finally the strict pursuit of quality. Due to this policy the yield of grapes per hectare is quite low; on the other hand the high percentage of DOC products is an evidence of the superior standard of wines of this region. Nevertheless it needs being considered that these wines, in spite of their low yield, are representing almost 2% of the whole national production.

Friuli Venezia Giulia is a bordering region. After the first world war many vineyards were destroyed and had to be replanted. This gave the opportunity for experiments and crossovers of ancient vines (like the "Roman" Refosco, the "white medieval" Ribolla, Pignolo, Malvasia Istriana, Verduzzo and the "red medieval" Schioppetino and Tazzelenghe) with new foreign vines (Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon, Pinot Nero, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Bianco, Chardonnay, Riesling and Traminer). Tocai Friulano and Picolit, instead, have long tradition but uncertain origin.

Friuli Vineyards have two different methods of cultivation: in the hills the "double bower upside down" is used while in the plains the "casarse" system for mechanical grape harvest is used instead. The "Grave del Friuli DOC area", so called because of its likeness with the french "Graves" of the Bordeaux area, is situated at the foot of morenic hills where gravely grounds were naturally prepared by river erosions, in fact an excellent base for wine cultivation.

In these particular areas many kinds of wines can be found. Among those Merlot and Tocai Friulano need to be especially mentioned.

Wine in history
Historical news, first the Greeks then the Romans described in detail the reputation and the splendour of wine products in this area. Aquileia, the second city of the Roman Empire after Rome, has given us great testimonies. It has left a large quantity of findings regarding wine: thousands of amphoras, wine vases, glasses and other objects pertaining to wine. Still today, under the buried land due to a seaquake of the first centuries AD there are thousands of amphoras produced by the 5 operating furnaces of the area. Much of the wine produced departed by sea towards Rome and other cities of the Roman Empire. Empress Livia, who lived until the age of 82, suggested to everyone to drink "Pucino" wine as an elixir to long life.