Explore wines, denominations and producers from this Italian wine region
Friuli Venezia Giulia, tucked into Italy's northeastern corner against Slovenia and Austria, is widely considered the country's premier white wine region. Cool alpine breezes, diverse soils and a tradition of meticulous, terroir-driven winemaking have made Friuli whites some of the most sought-after in Italy among sommeliers and collectors.
The Collio and Colli Orientali del Friuli zones, with their marl-and-sandstone soils known locally as ponca, produce structured, age-worthy whites from Friulano (the region's signature grape, formerly called Tocai), Ribolla Gialla and Sauvignon Blanc. Friuli producers were also pioneers of orange wine — extended skin-contact whites that gained an international cult following starting in the 1990s. The region's reds, based on Refosco and Merlot, are less internationally known but offer excellent value and food-friendly character alongside the celebrated whites.