Wines from Friuli

The wonderfully typical, very lively Ribolla Gialla has a bouquet of fresh citrus fruits and apples, with peach notes and flint in the background. The fruity taste is round, clean and very harmonious with a long, salty finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"The Ribolla Gialla Zuc di Volpe 2021 is delicate and unobtrusive. It smells of lime and green melon, underlined by sweet floral scents. The style is soft and mineral, with an echo of saline acidity that slowly dissipates to reveal crisp Granny Smith apple. The 2021 finishes clean but full of youthful tension and a crisp feel as nuances of sour citrus gradually fade. What a beauty. Two to three years of ageing should help it to develop fully." Vinous

"Lots of flint and smoke with aromas and flavours of green apple and lime. Tangy and bright. A linear and energetic Ribolla with a sorbet finish." James Suckling

Here comes the new single-varietal Pinot Grigio from one of our absolute favourite winemakers for years. In addition to his Friulano vineyards, Dario Raccaro has been cultivating a small vineyard planted with 100% Pinot Gris vines in Guyot training for many years. Since the 2022 vintage, he has been selling just 2,000 bottles of this fine wine and we are delighted to have received an allocation. Pale straw yellow in colour, with a fine, floral bouquet with traces of flint and white smoke. Well-structured on the palate, soft and flowing, very velvety and deep at the same time, a masterful interpretation of Pinot Gris! SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2022 Pinot Grigio lifts from the glass with an airy freshness, blending minty herbs with crushed rocks and Asian pear. This is soothingly round with ripe orchard fruits and sweet spices that swirl throughout. It tapers off remarkably fresh with an herbal tinge and green melon suggestions slowly fade." Vinous

Schiopetto's Pinot Grigio seduces with a nuanced and noble blend of yellow apples, spring flowers, wet stone and sweet smoke. On the entry, it is soft with an echo of green citrus and salty minerals that add tension, while lively notes of pear and inner flowers build towards the finish. It finishes with a pleasant inner sweetness, while a hint of spice and ginger lingers. This understated beauty is full of character and promises good ageing potential. SUPERIORE.DE

"A rich, carpeted ginger-pear wine that starts pretty, perky, floral and green. It spreads out like liquid silk, filling every corner with a kind of golden, silvery sheen that hints at honey and baked puff pastry to come, then returns to sweet peas and sugar snap peas." Jancis Robinson

"Delicate aromas of green apple, citrus, and fresh white flowers mingle in this expressive wine. The palate pops with vibrant flavors of ripe pear and lemon, complemented by a crisp acidity and a refreshing, clean finish." Wine Enthusiast

"The 2022 Pinot Grigio is remarkably pretty, with hints of sweet spice and white flowers emphasising freshly cut nectarines. The Pinot Grigio is incredibly fresh, with zesty acidity and a hint of green citrus to the ripe fruit. The finish is clean and of medium length, leaving a hint of young peach and chamomile. The balance of this wine is excellent and makes it easy to return to the glass again and again." Vinous

"Aromas of quince fruit, glazed lemons, peaches and a hint of praline. Also some wet stones. Medium to full-bodied with depth and a delicate phenolic note in the texture. Long and taut with a lively, nervy acidity that goes on and on. Lots of crushed stones and spices. Attractive." James Suckling

Bright ruby red colour and the typical vinous, slightly grassy bouquet of Pinot Noir. The flavour is elegant and refined, pleasantly full-bodied and balanced. SUPERIORE.DE

"An elegant, light- to medium-bodied red, with a core of juicy cherry, cranberry and raspberry fruit flavors trimmed by light, taut tannins. This is refreshing and balanced, with a mix of smoke, dried thyme and milled pepper notes adding fine detail to the finish." Wine Spectator

This mineral and concentrated wine emphasises the beauty of the Collio region. Ponca, the local name for the soil in the Collio, is a calcareous clay and sandstone conglomerate, which this wine shows in abundance. The first note of Ponca leads to ripe apples and white flowers. On the palate, it is complex and structured, creamy and with a strong acidity. It is a wine with stony and mineral undertones that emphasises the soil of this special place. SUPERIORE.DE

"Aromas of baked apples, lemon oil and pressed yellow flowers. On the palate, it delivers a delightful fusion of citrus and stone fruit flavors, culminating in a refreshing, clean finish that mirrors the region's vibrant spirit." Wine Enthusiast

"The 2022 Pinot Bianco captivates with a bouquet that mixes enriching notes of almond paste and sweet spice with crushed yellow apples. Silky and enveloping, this washes across the palate with medium-bodied weight and mineral-tinged orchard fruits as brisk acidity adds a cheek-puckering twang toward the close. The 2022 leaves tropical citrus and hints of green melon to linger on, finishing with admirable length and wonderfully fresh. Already a pleasure today, the 2022 Pinot Bianco will also excel over three to four years of cellaring." Vinous

"Crushed seashells, flint, white fruit and crumbled minerality. Quite textured with a medium to full body and a long, mineral finish. Has lovely mid-palate substance and tension." James Suckling

Schiopetto's Friulano is youthfully unobtrusive with a pretty bouquet that blends lemon peel with mint and hints of crushed rock. It washes over the palate with a tense mix of citrusy acids and salty minerals, while a core of tropical melon develops towards the end. Finishes on a more delicate note, but long and with pretty inner flowers that still linger. The beautiful balance and underlying power of this wine will guarantee good ageing in the bottle. The best is yet to come. SUPERIORE.DE

"Hawthorn blossom on the nose and then that indefinable, seamless, petal-wax smoothness-that-is-Friulano on the palate. It has Friulano's macadamia-nut-carved-into-flower smooth, sweet, floral oiliness. Kind of hard to define, kind of delicate, kind of ploppy (like fat rain drops). Poached-pear sweetness. A wine that would be delicious with anything soft and green and drenched in buttery beurre blanc. Wonderful with cold, minty lamb sausages." Jancis Robinson

"Lithe and well-balanced, this mouthwatering white has lively hints of grapefruit zest, milled white pepper and lemon thyme underscoring juicy tangerine, peach skin and lentil notes." Wine Spectator

"The 2022 Friulano wafts up with a delicate bouquet, blending minty herbs and wet stone with green apples and lime zest. This flows across the palate with ease, crisp and cool-toned in feel, with saline mineral tones adding a tactile feel as candied citrus notes resonate throughout. It finishes clean and with medium length, leaving a salty sensation and the mouth watering for more." Vinous

"Oyster shell, light flint, match stick, dried pear, and apple puree aromas and flavors. Medium to full body. Layered. Very minerally. Tight and focused. Serious." James Suckling

Davino Merois Pinot Grigio is smoky, with crushed stone and flint to counterbalance young peaches and pears. It is soft and pure, with ripe melon and sweet herbal notes on the inside that are heavy yet lively. It leaves a savoury aftertaste and makes you want more! SUPERIORE.DE

Schiopetto's delicious Malvasia seduces with multi-layered flavours of crushed apple, spices, smoke, raw almonds and white flowers. It has a silky texture and envelops the palate with fragrant waves of ripe melon and orchard fruit, enlivened by lively acidity. It offers a seductive interplay of savoury and sweet flavours and has a long but also incredibly fresh finish. This wine is simply stunning and yet still as youthfully closed as it is today. Patience is required to experience the full effect. SUPERIORE.DE

"Ashy and chalky with wet stones and grilled herbs to the green fruit. Really flinty and structured with a medium to full body and a tight, dry and compact finish. A smoky, very stony Malvasia that has a mineral, extended finish." James Suckling

Schioppettino is an old Friulian grape variety from which this wonderful, medium-bodied wine is made. Smells of red berries, herbs and liquorice. Fresh, floral and fruity notes on the palate, mineral and long. SUPERIORE.DE

"Attractive aromas of dark cherries, licorice, dried rosemary and wet stones, following through to a medium body with a solid and velvety tannin structure. Smooth and balanced." James Suckling

Yellow spring flowers, apricots and crushed herbs pour from the glass of this flavoursome white wine, along with an inviting hint of yeast and fresh bread dough. The enveloping, medium-bodied palate picks up where the nose left off, offering ripe pear, unsweetened lemon candy, salt and white almonds alongside tangy acidity. A fine fennel note on the long finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"The Raccaro 2023 Collio Friulano Rolat reveals a dry style with an emphasis on mineral tones and crushed oyster shell. It sees stainless steel only. However, the palate reverts to sweeter flavors of peach nectar and honeydew melon over a mildly creamy consistency." Wine Advocate

Deep ruby red colour. Bright, fresh and savoury aromas and flavours of blueberries, flint, coffee and fresh herbs. Long and clean with soft tannins and very good clarity on the bright finish. A beautiful, very refined wine, characterised by its early attractiveness, but also by its velvet-pawed concentration and complexity. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2019 Rivarossa, a blend of Cabernet and Merlot, takes its time to evolve in the glass. It's coy at first, with hints of dried black cherry. Swirling slowly unlocks depths of sage and exotic spice. This displays silky textures as a polished wave of red and black fruits swirls across a stream of zesty acidity. The 2019 slowly saturates the palate in youthful concentration, along with fine-grained tannins, while finishing long, structured and leaving a pleasant bitter tinge. There is potential here, yet it will require serious patience to unlock." Vinous

"Raspberry, blackcurrant bush and bark on the nose. Also some pencil. Full-bodied, but not overwhelming, with linear and polished tannins that run the length of the wine. Very solid and structured, but with a certain openness on the finish." James Suckling

The Pinot Grigio Zuc di Volpe impresses with seductive aromas of ripe pears and apricots, accompanied by sweet white flowers and a hint of buttercream. It is silky and round, with a certain heaviness, yet perfectly balanced. Then on the palate, notes of ripe melon underlined by zesty lime and a salty note towards the spicy, smoky final. For all its complexity, very bright and fresh and full of personality. SUPERIORE.DE

"Intensely perfumed and rich in the glass, the 2021 Pinot Grigio Zuc di Volpe wafts up with notes of dried peaches and apricots complemented by a whiff of chamomile. It’s silky, nearly oily in texture, with tart green apple fruits and zesty lime tones complicated by a salty core of minerality. The 2021 lingers incredibly long and savory yet fresh with rosemary and liquid stone nuances. This characterful Pinot Grigio communicates importance and refinement from the first tilt of the glass. Fans of the variety should seek it out." Vinous

"A terrific and serious pinot grigio with lime, apple-pie and lemon-zest character throughout. Full-bodied and driven, with so much fruit flavor and intensity in the finish." James Suckling

Brilliant, rich yellow with silver-green reflections. The bouquet has pronounced smoky, mineral notes, full flavours of mango, citrus fruit, sage and asparagus. It shows its true class on the palate: wonderfully complex structure, lots of naturally sweet flavour, refreshing acidity and a juiciness, strength and length that can only be achieved through long contact with the lees and simultaneous agitation. Very convincing, downright captivating! SUPERIORE.DE

"Firm and quite deep, yeasty, very delicately nutty and smoky aroma with citrus flavours, some white berries, spring onions, broccoli, white pepper and crab meat. Ripe, juicy, dense fruit, very fine acidity and some grip, vegetal spice, blackcurrant leaves, some smoke and nutty-yeasty traces, blackcurrants and gooseberries in the background, mineral foundation, good depth, very good, firm, juicy, mineral and somewhat herbal-spicy finish with blackberry and floral nuances." Wein-Plus

"Intense straw yellow with a green tinge. Aromatic nose, lots of gooseberry and nettle, some passion fruit in the background. Straightforward and precise on the palate, animating, mouthwatering, delicately melting, lingering, salty final." Falstaff

"On the nose, cooked lemons, savoury herbs, pepper and a hint of flinty minerality. Medium-bodied, juicy and citrusy with lively acidity and a flavourful finish." James Suckling

"The Sauvignon Blanc Picol 2021 is flavoursome and incredibly fresh. In the glass, it unfolds aromas of nectarine, rosemary and sage, accompanied by candied lime. It is full of zesty tension with sharp yellow citrus fruits and salty mineral notes that tantalise the senses. Its brilliant acidity is the real highlight of the show, as the Picol finishes long and powerful with a mix of sour melon and young kiwi that makes the taster return to the glass." Vinous

"Inviting, smoky nose of gooseberry aromatics; palate of tropical notes and a neat, bright acidity." Decanter

The best grape material ensures intensely fruity aromas and distinct characteristics in the Pinot Blanc of the Zuc di Volpe line. Brilliantly clear, soft, floral tones, harmonious and juicy, persistent and long. Beautiful ageing potential. SUPERIORE.DE

Bright yellow-green in colour. Intense nose of orchard fruits, ripe peach, roasted nuts and some lemon mousse, rounded off with creamy vanilla. Very juicy on the palate, not too heavy, with salty elements and warm yellow fruit flavours. Chardonnay made by Lis Neris is always a complete pleasure and a lasting memory. Very elegant and with good ageing and maturation potential thanks to 11 months of ageing on the fine lees. SUPERIORE.DE

"Shiny, light golden yellow in colour. Slightly reductive on the nose, flint and gunpowder, fine roasted flavours, tropical fruit and vanilla on the finish. Fresh and juicy on the palate, the use of wood is noticeable, well-balanced, with a long final." Falstaff

"Notes of cooked apples, walnuts, bread crust and stones on the nose. Medium- to full-bodied, firm and textured with a juicy stone fruit character. Zesty and refreshing finish." James Suckling

This beautiful white cuvée made from Friulano, Ribolla Gialla and Malvasia istriana has a seductive aroma of spring flowers, white stone fruit and citrus notes. The palate is round, full-bodied and enveloping, with creamy white peach, ripe apple and grapefruit as well as notes of crushed herbs and ginger, accompanied by a fresh acidity. A salty note enlivens the finish. A great wine with lots of potential! SUPERIORE.DE

Complex and rich bouquet of citrus fruit and sage flavours. Excellently structured and consistent on the palate with a fresh acid wire. This wonderful Sauvignon offers multi-layered fruit notes and great harmony with a delightful grapefruit flavour on the long finish. Good ageing potential. SUPERIORE.DE

This single-varietal Malvasia is a reference in the Collio every year. Elegant aromas of white peach, jasmine, magnolia, crushed rock and fresh herbs pour from the glass with every sip. On the palate, pine and fresh herbs combine with fresh apples and apricots, with layers upon layers of ever-evolving flavours. Great ageing potential. SUPERIORE.DE

"Made in stainless steel only, this is a delicate and pretty wine with a charming and accessible style. If you have a bottle of the Raccaro 2023 Collio Malvasia, you'll enjoy drinking it while the primary aromas are so fresh. Jasmine and honeysuckle are on full display. Try it with an heirloom tomato salad with fresh basil leaves." Wine Advocate

Brilliant light straw yellow colour. Elegant aromas of gooseberry, smoke, some flint and lemon followed by a full body with powerful fruit and mineral nuances, very balanced, savoury and unmistakably high-class. SUPERIORE.DE

"Fresh and flavoursome on the nose with crushed apples, spicy herbs, mussels and citrus leaves. Medium-bodied, bright and lively with citrusy freshness, mouthwatering acidity and chalky minerality. Some salty undertones." James Suckling

"The 2022 Sauvignon is perfumed, casting a delicate array of wildflowers, tangerine and hints of incense from the glass. Seductively smooth and soothing upon entry, this quickly gains tension as zesty acidity and sour citrus tones collide over a core of tart green apple. Crisp and nearly crunchy in feel, the 2022 keeps the mouth watering for more while leaving a minty herbal tinge and salty flourish to linger on. Simply stunning." Vinous

"A Sauvignon of complexity and completeness, representative of the Capriva terroir. On the nose, notes of white apricot, then rosemary, bergamot and jasmine. Spicy and sweet on the palate, with a fruity note and a citrus finish." Luca Gardini

In addition to his Friulano vineyards, Dario Raccaro has been cultivating a small vineyard planted with 100% Guyot Pinot Gris vines for many years. Since the 2022 vintage, he has been selling just 2,000 bottles of this fine wine and we are delighted to have received an allocation. Pale straw yellow in colour, with a fine, floral bouquet with traces of flint and white smoke. Well-structured on the fresh palate, soft and flowing, very velvety and deep at the same time, a masterful interpretation of Pinot Gris! SUPERIORE.DE

The Biancosesto is a true Friulian made from equal parts of the local Ribolla Gialla and Friulano grape varieties. Fresh, citrus-fruity aroma with hints of apple and pear, accompanied by a full-bodied, harmonious and pleasantly dry flavour. A refined interpretation of down-to-earthness with a beautiful arc of tension. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright olive green with straw yellow colour. Juicy citrus fruit on the nose, elderberry, juicy pink peach, rose petal, grapefruit, pomegranate, inviting. Fresh, juicy, clear on the palate, with well-defined fruit, full of tension and accessible, pure drinking pleasure." Falstaff

"Perfumed, elegant nose with citrus blossom and menthol, rich on the palate with candied fruit." Decanter

"This bright white features juicy pineapple, passion fruit and lychee notes accented by hints of grated ginger, ground cardamom, vanilla and white blossoms. Well-knit and lightly chalky in texture, with a focused, mineral-driven finish." Wine Spectator

"I like the undertones of crushed stone in the grapefruit and gooseberry flavours. It's bright, creamy and citrusy, with a medium body and a lively, zesty finish." James Suckling

"The Tunella 2022 Friuli Colli Orientali Biancosesto emphasises its modernist style with a very rich and creamy texture that comes from ageing in large Slavonian oak barrels. The blend consists of equal parts Friulano and Ribolla Gialla, and the fruit benefits from marl and sandstone soils that develop freshness and sweet concentration. This wine is complex and rich with ripe fruit, apricots and pears. It is a 360-degree expression with an extra dose of opulence to finish." Wine Advocate

Pignolo reveals an enticing bouquet of roasted coffee beans, leather, smoke and spices. The incredibly complex aromatics of the rare grape variety are repeated on the palate with good structure and harmony. A wine without equal, especially when it comes to Pignolo. SUPERIORE.DE

"A rich and very ripe pignolo that does not overpower with its rusticity. Blackberries, dried dark cherries, sweet spices and chocolate. Rich and full-bodied on the palate with sweet fruit and ample, nicely chewy tannins. Nice restraint for a pignolo." James Suckling

Pale greenish yellow, floral aromas of flowers, tangerine and peach. Fresh and elegant on the palate, very precise, long-lasting and juicy on the finish. A multi-faceted, exotic wine with good development potential. SUPERIORE.DE

"Clear golden yellow colour with brilliant reflections. Phenolic initial notes with yellow fruit, peach, citrus and some aniseed. Excellent juiciness on the palate, wonderfully animating to drink, medium finish with a tang." Falstaff

"A simple and crisp Riesling with pear-shaped stone fruit and a hint of petrol and flint. Light and acidic on the palate, with fresh, simple flavours and a phenolic bite on the finish." James Suckling

Prunella Mandorlata is a beautifully amber-coloured, light and delicate liqueur made from bitter almonds. Exceptionally rich in flavour and aroma. Made according to Antonio Nonino's old original recipe. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright light amber colour. Intense and rich on the nose. Clearly prominent almond flavour that runs from the nose to the palate, followed by fruity notes. Soft, balanced and flavourful on the palate." Falstaff