The Collio and its White Wines
Friulano and the wines of the Collio
Between Gorizia and the border with Slovenia, the Collio is a landscape of gentle hills covered with vineyards, woods, cherry and peach orchards, small villages and farmhouses, which continues on the Slovenian side with the name of Brda. It is one of the most important areas in Italy for white wines, thanks to its particular soil, the "ponca", a layered marl and sandstone rich in minerals, and to a climate influenced both by the Alps, which protect it from cold winds, and by the nearby Adriatic. The Collio DOC produces elegant, fragrant and mineral white wines, from native grapes such as Friulano (once called Tocai Friulano), Ribolla Gialla and Malvasia Istriana, and from international varieties such as Sauvignon, Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay, as well as the "Collio Bianco", a blend.
The Collio is also the homeland of some of the pioneers of the so-called "orange wines", white wines made with long maceration on the skins, sometimes in clay amphorae, according to ancient techniques, a movement that started in the area of Oslavia and has become famous throughout the world. The main centre of the area is Cormons, a pleasant small town with a regional wine shop, the Enoteca di Cormons, where you can taste the wines of many producers. The Strada del Vino e delle Ciliegie winds through the hills, connecting wineries, agriturismi and "frasche", where the farmers serve their wine and cold cuts. In spring, the cherry trees in bloom make the landscape even more beautiful.
Tip: taste a Friulano with prosciutto in an enoteca in Cormons; book a visit to a winery on the hills of Oslavia.
Where it is
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