Friuli Venezia Giulia

This lesser-known region is incredibly rich in wine. White wines from Friuli are among the best in the world and unique red wines are also created here. Winemakers from Friuli were ahead of their time and began successfully experimenting with natural and biodynamic wines many years ago. The region can be divided into two parts. The most valuable wines are produced in the east near the Slovenian border, where the landscape is hilly and the growing conditions are challenging. One of the most famous areas of this part of Friuli is Collio, which has a specific microclimate with a lot of rainfall, strong cold winds in winter, and a pleasant breeze from the sea in summer. This area is characterized by poor soil, which the locals call ponca. The second area closer to the sea is lowland and more "commercial", where wines for quick consumption are produced in vineyards with significantly higher yields.

Among the most typical local varieties are Friulano (originally called Tocai), Ribolla Gialla, Refosco, Schioppettino and Picolit, which is often used for the production of dessert wines. Friulian winemakers blend a lot, often complementing local varieties with international ones like Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon, or Merlot. Despite its relatively small size, Friuli has four DOCG appellations and ten DOC areas.