North East Italy - Friuli

Question 1

What is Friuli also known as?

Answer 1

Friuli-Venezia Giulia

Question 2

Where is it?

Answer 2

Italy’s most north-easterly region

Question 3

What is Friuli best known for (wines)

Answer 3

high quality white wines

Question 4

What countries does Friuli border?

Answer 4

Austria and Slovenia

Question 5

What % of the wine produced is white in Friuli?
What % of Italian wine does Friuli represent?
what is the Quality?

Answer 5

75% White
4% of Italian Production
Quality Single Varietal wines

Question 6

Where are the vineyards in Friuli?

Answer 6

On the flat plain near the Adriatic sea

Question 7

what is the climate in Friuli?

Answer 7

Warm Maritime - warm air from Adriatic Sea meets cooler influences from the Alps, high rainfall

Question 8

What is the main risk in Friulia

Answer 8

High rainfall (120cm a year) with accompanying humidity, organic viticulture hard

Question 9

What are the 2 zones in Friuli?

Answer 9

The Plain
Low Hills

Question 10

What does The Plain zone produce?

Answer 10

Everyday wines, Pinot Grigio, Merlot, higher yield fruit on fertile soils

Question 11

What wines do the 4 of the DOCs produce?
River?
Soil in higher quality vineyard?

Answer 11

1. Grave del Friuli DOC (volume wines)
2. Friuli Isonzo (best quality from sites on right bank of Isonzo river)
3. Collio DOC and Colliio Orientali del Friuli DOC - higher quality wines on calcareous marl and sandstone. Compacted Marl called Ponca = excellent drainage

Question 12

What is the altitude in Friuli

Answer 12

200m - but a range of slopes, exposure to wine = lower yields, higher quality, greater costs and price

Question 13

Friuli is famous for it’s whites, what is the style it is most famous for?

Answer 13

Pinot Grigio, the richest style in Italy, medium to full-bodied wines, juicy peach, and tropical fruit flavours

Question 14

What is the most planted black variety grown in Friuli?

Answer 14

Merlot, medium bodied, medium acidity and tannins and ripe red flavours, with a hint of spice from oak.

Question 15

Describe wines made on the plains in Friuli and the DOC

Answer 15

Friuli Grave DOC, tend to white, simple, fruity.

Question 16

Describe Collio DOC(G)

Answer 16

Located in the hills
max yields 77 hL/ha
principal wines are single varietal white wines from Friulano, Ribolla Galla, Sav Blanc or Chardonnay
can be listed as:
Collio Friulano - 18 varieties approved
becoming? Collio DOCG

Question 17

Describe Collio Orientali del Friuli (COF)

Answer 17

Located in the hills
became part of Italy in 19thC

Question 18

What did Friulano used to be known as?
What are it’s characteristics?
what wine style does it produce?

Answer 18

Formerly known as Tocai Friulano - EU ruled that name Tokaj was only to be used in Hungary.
Good disease resistant (good for hi rainfall)
Med- floral apple flavours
med to hi alcohol
med acidity
S/S to preserve aromatics
Good to v good in quality, mid priced/premium

Question 19

What are the main white varieties grown in Friuli?

Answer 19

25% Pinot Grigio
Ribolla Gialla
Malvasia di Istria
Verduzzo
Picolit
Glera (Prosecco DOC extends into Friuli)

Question 20

What are the main red varieties grown in Friuli?

Answer 20

Refoso
Shiopettino
Pignolo
Tazzalenghe

Question 21

Who introduced the wine style popular in Friuli and when?

Answer 21

Mario Shiopetto 1960s

Question 22

What style of wine did Mario Shiopetto introduce?
Using what winemaking techniques?
Leading to what experimentation?

Answer 22

Clean, mainly unoaked using German expertise
S/S, temp control, cultivated yeast and pneumatic presses
Leading to experimentation with late harvest fruit, skin maceration, lees stirring, use of oak

Question 23

Where will you find Orange wines?

Answer 23

Friuli esp Oslavia, small sub-region of Collio

Question 24

Where does Oslavia neighbour?

Answer 24

Slovenia (centre for production of orange wines

Question 25

How are Orange wines made in Friuli?

Answer 25

Long Maceration (8 days - 6-8 months)
On the skins of white varieties
followed by long ageing (2-6 years)
large format oak barrels

Question 26

What is the commitment to Orange Wines

Answer 26

Organic methods in Vineyard
Use of local Varieties (esp Ribolla Gialla)
Long maceration
fermentation with ambient yeasts, no temp control
long maturation in large oak
no fining/filtration
low or no SO2

Question 27

Describe the resulting Orange wine

Answer 27

Amber, orange or gold in colour
pronounced flavours of dried fruit, dried herbs, hay and nuts
med tannins
premium prices, appreciated by sommeliers/adventurous wine drinkers

Question 28

Name the two sweet wines made in Friuli

Answer 28

Colli Orientali del Friuli Picolit DOCG
Ramandolo DOCG

Question 29

Describe wine from Colli Orientali del Friuli Picolit

Answer 29

Historic wine
competitor for Hungarian Tokaj
Small volumes
Picolit has only 10-15 berries (berry set is a problem)
Wine made from air-dried grapes

Question 30

describe wine Ramandolo DOCG

Answer 30

made from air-dried grapes of Verduzzo variety

Question 31

What new DOC was introduced in 2016?

Answer 31

Friuli DOC - allows growers to produce wine to a DOC standard across all authorised areas of Friuli
yield to 98 hL/ha

Question 32

How does Pinot Grigio delle Venezie DOC fit into Friuli?

Answer 32

new DOC introduced in 2017 replacing Pinot Grigio dell Venezie IGP
Grapes for PGdV have to be grown in Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Trentino (not Alto Adige)

Question 33

Describe Ribolla Gialla grape

Answer 33

Only grown in Collio and Colli Orientali
needs hillside sites to prevent vigour
prone to shot berries
Wines have citrus/papper notes, hi acidity
experimented with, oak/non-oak aged, Charmat sparkling wine, dry/off-dry, extended skin contact for orange wines
amphora

Question 34

Describe Refosco grape

Answer 34

Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso
most planted black variety
vigorous
best grown on hillsides with lower fertility
late ripening, resistant to botrytis
Red wines produce red cherry with herbal aromas
small berries = high tannins, smoothed out by time in barrels