Three Of A Perfect Pair: K2’s Italian Wine Primer, Part 3

​We continue our journey through Italy, rounding out our discussion of the Tre Venezie (or della Venezie) with a look at the Friuli-Venezia Giulia.  This is the most northeastern region in Italy and it shares a border to the north with Austria, the east with Slovenia and to the south with the Adriatic Sea.  Friuli-Venezia-Giulia is effectively the bass player in the power trio that is the della Venezie.  It is divided into essentially 9 subregions, with the predominate vineyards residing in southern portion of the region.

The subregions are (clockwise from West to East):

1. Friuli-Grave (the largest subregion; varietally-named wines need only contain 85% of the varietal to be named as such)
2. Collio Orientali del Friuli
3. Collio Goriziano (contains all of the DOCs for the region; some of this area extends into Slovenia, however wines on the Slovenian side of the border cannot bear the designation, Collio)
4. Carso (this area encompasses the city of Trieste, the region’s capitol)
5. Isonza
6. Aquileia (like Friuli-Grave, varietally named wines need only contain 85% of the varietal to be named as such)
7. Friuli-Annia (varietally-named wines need only contain 90% of the varietal to be named as such)
8. Latisana (like Friuli-Annia, varietally-named wines need only contain 90% of the varietal to be named as such)
9. Lison-Pramaggiore (this area is shared with neighboring Veneto)

The major grape varieties include:  For red, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, and for white, Pinot Bianco, Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio.  Yet you can also find white varieties such as Verduzzo, Friulano, Muller-Thurgau, Ribolla Gialla, Malvasia Istriana, Sauvignon Blanc, and Welschriesling, and reds like Refosco, Pignolo, Pinot Noir and Tazzelenghe.

The uniqueness of Friuli winemaking is the emphasis over 100% varietal wines, though there are blends being made here, the goal is to focus more on the fruit and natural acidity without the influence of oak vessels, a focus referred to as metodo Friulano, or the Friuli method.  Wineries here have more in common with the winemakers of the Alsace and the Loire in France as opposed to Bordeaux or Rhone.

A couple great wines from the region for you to check out:

Velante Pinot Grigio Venezia Giulia 2015.  This bright, crisp white wine from Veneto’s Bertani is pretty, with slight hints of green apple skin, white peach and mineral.

Robert Princic Gradis’Ciutta Cabernet Franc Collio 2013.  This red wine has a tremendous amount in common with Loire’s Chinon, showing off red and blue fruit aromas and flavors, hints of mineral, barnyard and dried herbs.  Savory characters really have this wine begging for food.

Our next episode of K2’s Imaginary Italian journey, we travel to Emilia-Romagna, home of the seriously misunderstood Lambrusco, Romagna’s less-recognized Sangiovese, and the wonderfully subtle white wine of Albana di Romagna.