It was the year 238. On his way to Aquileia, the Roman Emperor Maximinus had to cross the Isonzo River with his troops. Viticulture was already very lively in the area at that time, so lively in fact, that he could build a bridge with the wood from thousands of wine barrels. Modern Friulian winemaking has however benefited immensely from the French varieties introduced on the initiative of Earl Teodoro Latour. Bordering Austria in the north and Slovenia and Croatia in the East, this area has always been at the crossroads of different cultures. Nowadays, Friuli is home to some of the best and most successful Italian whites (ever heard of Pinot Grigio?). Warm temperatures during the day and cold nights set the scene for an incredible balance between acidity and sugar levels in the grape. Friulian wines are generally made without the use of oak, thus preserving their naturally beautiful freshness.

In the bigger context of the Friuli region, Collio is one of the most gifted areas. Sheltered from cold winds by the Julian Alps and under the mitigating influence of the Adriatic Sea, it gives birth to more full-bodied wines. The soil, called “ponka” in the local dialect, consists of sandstone that flakes off due to the action of atmospheric agents, creating a sandy soil that is ideal for viticulture. This estate produces two lines of wines: one for the Isonzo DOC, the other for the Collio DOC.

Collio wines have received a great amount of attention this year at Vinitaly 2010 for their intrinsic qualities and the new image of the wines packaged in a new, beautifully designed, bottle.