Wines from Friuli

Livio Felluga's new cru wines are the result of massalselection. For this purpose, selected vines are reproduced in particularly favourable locations in order to renew vineyards with particularly high-quality vines and to further improve the quality of individual varietal wines.

The grapes for this very characterful and multi-layered Sauvignon Bianco come from vines planted back in 1975. It is characterised by its creamy texture and nine months of ageing in barrels after four weeks of malolactic fermentation. Pure gold in the glass with rich yellow nuances. Opens with a summery aroma of roses and boxwood, then physalis, passion fruit, nettle, pickled peach and a delicate hint of coriander. Smooth on the palate, very elegant with complex sweetness, exoticism and citrus fruit. The wood is well integrated and emphasises the aristocratic character of this exceptional wine. SUPERIORE.DE

"A blend of savory herbs, spiced orange peels and incense gives way to a vivid nectarine as the 2020 Sauvignon Potentilla blossoms in the glass. This is deeply textural, with masses of mineral-tinged pit fruits complicated by a sour citrus tinge. The 2020 finishes spicy and with a youthful tension that puckers the cheeks as candied lemons fade." Vinous

"A very serious Sauvignon blanc, showing intense lemons, stones, perfectly ripe gooseberries and limes with a hint of sour cream. Almost full-bodied on the palate with impressive concentration. Mineral, taut and broad with plenty of substance. Pure and supple." James Suckling

Livio Felluga's new crus are the result of massalselection. Selected vines in particularly favourable locations are reproduced in order to renew vineyards with particularly high-quality vines and further improve the quality of individual varietal wines.

Named after the Curubella vineyard, this Pinot Grigio expresses the unique and very expressive terroir in a very special way. Golden yellow with copper-coloured reflections, the result of a long maceration period. Autumnal notes of medlar, jasmine and white pepper on the nose, rounded off with elderberry, marjoram, melon and orange zest. Powerful and expressive on the firm palate with candied fruit, spice and floral elements. Traces of acacia honey and biscuits on the long finish. Complex and deep with a very clear personality, freshness and beautiful minerality. SUPERIORE.DE

"The Livio Felluga 2020 Friuli Colli Orientali Pinot Grigio Curubella is a fascinating wine that reveals a slightly pink or copperish hue (called "ramato" in Italian) that comes thanks to some minimal skin contact. That pretty intensity translates to both the bouquet and the mouthfeel of this special wine that is aged in vessels made with a composite of cement known as cocciopesto. Sweet peach, grapefruit and spicy saffron emerge, and the wine is broad and even a touch sweet. It also offers drying mineral tones in contrast." Wine Advocate

"Flavoured with candied mandarins and peach peel as well as dried herbs and a hint of cream. Medium to full-bodied. On the palate, it is very full-bodied and long-lasting and very balanced. It is polished and even with a balanced acidity and a somewhat firm, phenolic backbone. Exciting and nervous, but also very elegant." James Suckling

Warm, rich golden yellow colour. A rich bouquet of pretty white and yellow flowers, layers of apricot, pear and melon. On the palate, a rich texture, a certain opulence and beautiful intensity, with hints of spices and almonds, all framed by a virile acidity that leads this work of art into a long, furious finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright, pale straw yellow colour. Opens fresh on the nose on grapefruit and freshly cut grass, then warmer on pineapple and passion fruit, a hint of brioche. Silky attack, rolls over the palate with gentle pressure, concentrated fruit, harmonious into the long, juicy finish." Falstaff

"A seductive bouquet of honey blossom, almond custard, lemon curd and chamomile makes the 2022 Chardonnay Vie di Romans impossible to ignore. This wine is very structured, almost oily and heavy in flavour, but still perfectly refined, with a salty mineral note in the foreground that balances the core of ripe fruit well. The 2022 cleanses beautifully, with a concentration of citrus and a hint of tropical melon that lingers incredibly long, while a touch of residual acidity maintains a lovely freshness. This is a fantastic achievement." Vinous

"The 2022 Friuli Isonzo Chardonnay Vie di Romans is a generous white with plenty of fruit weight. Pronounced flavours of ripe peach and fruit steal the show, but there are also sweet notes of calla lily and hibiscus. There is even a spicy hint of lavender, but the wine finishes with a distinctly sweet flavour. Both testify to the hot growing season of 2022." Wine Advocate

"A complex and restrained wine with an intense nose of lemon leaves, pink grapefruit and mangoes, plus a whiff of herbaceous character. Medium-bodied, it shows a silky texture and elegance overall, with long, refreshing acidity and intoxicating savory length." James Suckling

Antonio Bragato, born in Germany but with an absolute Friulian identity, joined forces 20 years ago with Gianni Maccari, who was cellar master at Livio Felluga for many years and founded his own winery Ronco della Rocca at the beginning of the millennium. Maccari, who has a degree in agronomy and Oenologist, is considered one of the best-trained viticultural experts in Friuli. The profound knowledge of his own 12 hectares of vineyards as well as the leased plots and the radical precision in the execution of every operation characterise the clear style and the reliable quality of the wines that Antonio Bragato creates there together with him.

From the 2019 vintage, Antonio Bragato's wine experiment enters a new era. Since then, the team has relied on an even more rigorous selection of the oldest vines from the coolest and best sites. The results of the "New Edition" can truly be seen and tasted. They are even more radical in complexity and finesse. We are pleased to be able to offer our customers the smallest editions of these wines, which confirm the many years of work and experience of the two quality fanatics!

The vines from which the Chardonnay grapes for Rio delle Rose come are over 80 years old. Fine, exotic and noticeably mineral bouquet of pome fruit, apple, citrus peel, white flowers, some flint and a hint of banana and pineapple. On the palate driven forward, with nice pressure and juicy draw, then as it progresses this fine minerality again and in the long, complex finish a very delicate, never-ending melt. Very balanced and big - with its subtle restraint and great personality, Rio delle Rose is for us one of the best Chardonnays from Friuli! SUPERIORE.DE

"Dense nose with ripe pome fruit, light flowers, herbal spice and fresh herbs, pink grapefruit, lime zest, fine wood, plus ethereal notes. Powerful in the mouth, yet very balanced thanks to the juicy train, shows itself stoffig with a lot of inner density, remains sharply contoured, enormously juicy, wonderfully dry, very classic without exuberant melting. Rather compact with a cool style." Weinwisser

"Fragrant on the nose, juicy pears, red apple, honeydew melon, lemon zest, hazelnut, meadow herbs. On the palate juicy fruit, spice, fine tannin, creamy core with lively acidity. Pleasantly salty finish, nice length." Falstaff

"An impressively concentrated Chardonnay with excellent structure and lively acidity that makes it seem lighter than it actually is. Wonderful peach fruit and delicate vanilla oak combine with fine tannins in exemplary fashion on the long, crisp and saline finish." James Suckling

Pale copper colour with amber and salmon hues, the result of prolonged maceration on the skins of the Pinot Grigio grapes (Ramato). Straightforward, precise nose of white stone fruit, sweet spices and vanilla. Clearly structured and forward on the palate with tart berry fruit, light cherries, wild mint and a hint of bitter almond. A salty nuance on the finish, light-footed, almost weightless and very animating. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright light orange colour with a sparkling reflex. Elegant and inviting nose of fine precious wood, hazelnuts, some apricots, plus orange zest and light spice. Great freshness on the palate, underpinned by a fine creaminess and substance, albeit somewhat alcoholic in the centre, rich and long. Has a lot of character." Falstaff

"The Pinot Grigio Dessimis 2022 has a copper-orange colour in the glass and a delicate floral note. Dried apricots, almond paste, peaches and a hint of mint characterise its bouquet. On the palate, it is soft and enveloping, almost juicy, with ripe fruit balanced by lively acidity and a noticeable minerality. The 2022 finishes long, colourful and lightly structured, with lingering hints of nectarine and spice." Vinous

"Opening to a mildly copper-tinged appearance, the Vie di Romans 2022 Friuli Isonzo Pinot Grigio Dessimis rests on the lees in barrique for nine months to produce extra textural richness and softness. This wine offers a very pretty bouquet with elegant hints of grapefruit, Pink Lady apple and dragon fruit. There is a hint of the exotic, but it remains very mild." Wine Advocate

A 100% Merlot from the Colli Orientali is always special: intense, full thrust of fruit with a wonderfully plush texture and simultaneous definition, although the style remains powerful, ripe and intense. Flowers, spices and liquorice add race and class to this exceptional wine. Great Merlot cinema. SUPERIORE.DE

Illivio undoubtedly belongs to the luxury class of white wines. Made from Pinot Bianco, Chardonnay and Picolit, with a complex flavour of sweet fruit and fresh spices, it reflects the enormous potential of its origin. Its flavour structure, balanced acidity and lingering finish are ideal. SUPERIORE.DE

"A complex and vibrant Collio. Glue, apricots, Mirabelle plums, citrus and beeswax. Medium-bodied with tension and crisp acidity that are well integrated with vibrant peaches in the finish." James Suckling

ÙE Uvabianca distilled from the three white grape varieties Ribolla, Moscato and Malvasia. Clear, fresh, fragrant and slightly aromatic. SUPERIORE.DE

"Colourless. Flavours of sultanas, white flowers, also grapey with a slightly pungent alcohol. With a certain softness and sweetness on the palate, grapey flavour." Falstaff

Finely nuanced Chardonnay from the barrique. Bright yellow with a green tinge. Perfumed scents of citrus peel, banana and nuts. Firmly built and supple, with ripe acidity and underlying fresh herbal notes that consolidate the sweet citrus and oak flavours. The finish is precise and long. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2022 Chardonnay is wonderfully refined with a pleasurable whiff of reduction that blows off to reveal vivid yellow apples, crushed almonds and vanilla custard. This is soft textured and built on purity. A cooling minerality lifts a lovely inner sweetness and crisp orchard fruits. The 2022 finishes remarkably fresh yet long, leaving pretty inner florals and hints of confectionary spice lingering." Vinous

Lis is a mixed blend of Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc and is one of the house's top wines. It has a wonderfully complex aroma of citrus and passion fruit, yellow apple and an initially barely perceptible flavour lead from the Sauvignon Bianco. All elements of this cuvée are equally and masterfully married on the palate, the mouthfeel is soft and round. This complex and at the same time elegant white wine, with its subtle pressure, whets the appetite for more and inevitably casts a spell over every Friuli fan. SUPERIORE.DE

"Light golden yellow with straw-yellow reflections. Slightly reductive nose at first, then ripe stone fruit, flint, citrus fruit and fresh herbs in the background. Pleasant and lively acidity on the palate, salty, with a long finish." Falstaff

"Honeysuckle, guava, papaya and lime curd on the nose. Some dried spice, too. It’s medium-to full-bodied with a creamy, oily texture. Ripe, tropical style. Finishes fresh." James Suckling

"The 2018 Lis is coy in the glass, with a nuanced bouquet that shows young peach, dusty florals and white smoke. This is pure elegance on the palate, pleasantly soothing and soft, with ripe white pit fruits and hints of sweet spice that smooth over the palate. It finishes with a tug of tannin and a concentration of residual fruits, as hazelnut traces embellish the style." Vinous

Finely nuanced Chardonnay from the barrique. Bright yellow with a green tinge. Perfumed scents of citrus peel, banana and nuts. Firmly built and supple, with ripe acidity and underlying fresh herbal notes that consolidate the sweet citrus and oak flavours. The finish is precise and long. SUPERIORE.DE

Confini can justifiably be described as one of Friuli's best white wines. This crescendo is an exciting blend of Gewürztraminer, Pinot Grigio and Riesling, with the strong flavours of Traminer clearly leading the way. Medium-bodied on the palate, with a creamy fullness and silky intensity, with hints of tropical fruit, gingerbread and exotic flowers. In the final third, the palate is then again wide-ranging, full of freshness, juicy acidity and grace - and with the lasting, deep impression that more than does justice to a top wine from this appellation. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright golden yellow colour. Intense, aromatic nose, lots of fruit exoticism, mango and papaya, followed by rose petals and white pepper. Powerful on the palate, with phenolic grip, mouthwatering, animating, harmonious acidity structure, long, spicy final." Falstaff

"The 2019 Confini is uncannily fresh, emerging from the glass with an array of sweet herbs and wet stones that give way to a vibrant lime pudding. It is soft and round with an almost oily texture and a cascade of liquid flowers under a hint of incense and exotic spices. Zesty acidity resonates on the finish, while the 2019 finishes longer and is more savoury than expected. A salty note slowly fades. The Confini 2019 is a wine of constant contrasts. It is a blend of Pinot Grigio, Gewürztraminer and Riesling." Vinous

"Very aromatic with ripe pineapple, lychees and glazed lemons with dried flowers and spicy herb undertones. Medium- to full-bodied, tense and energetic with steady acidity and a firm, lightly phenolic mid-palate. Hints of dried leaves and citrus peel at the end." James Suckling

"Bright straw yellow with green reflections. Compact on the nose, lots of fruit, blackcurrant, lemon and bergamot, with plenty of herbal spice behind it. Straightforward and precise on the palate, great grip, mouthwatering, salty, delicately melting, refreshing acidity, long, mineral final." Falstaff

"The 2019 Fiore di Campo (Gold Label) is remarkably pretty in the glass. It is delicate and floral, with crushed stones and lime zest complemented by ginger spices. On the palate, it is round and pleasantly sweet. Ripe fruit is surrounded by a bright acidity, while a hint of mint unfolds towards the end. Candied citrus and a salty note contrast on the final, while the 2019 retains fantastic energy but is also lightly structured. The balance is stunning, and while it is still enjoyable today, it has a bright future ahead of it." Vinous

"The wine has a soft texture that only Italian white wines from Friuli have. The special thing about the texture is that it feels creepingly full-bodied, but never heavy. In addition to the flavours of stone fruit and pastries, the wine has a lovely acidic freshness and salty mineral notes." Wine Advocate

Antonio Bragato, born in Germany but with an absolute Friulian identity, joined forces 20 years ago with Gianni Maccari, who was cellar master at Livio Felluga for many years and founded his own winery Ronco della Rocca at the beginning of the millennium. Maccari, who has a degree in agronomy and Oenologist, is considered one of the best-trained viticultural experts in Friuli. The profound knowledge of his own 12 hectares of vineyards as well as the leased plots and the radical precision in the execution of every operation characterise the clear style and the reliable quality of the wines that Antonio Bragato creates there together with him.

From the 2019 vintage, Antonio Bragato's wine experiment enters a new era. Since then, the team has relied on an even more rigorous selection of the oldest vines from the coolest and best sites. The results of the "New Edition" can truly be seen and tasted. They are even more radical in complexity and finesse. We are pleased to be able to offer our customers the smallest editions of these wines, which confirm the many years of work and experience of the two quality fanatics!

Praephylloxera (literally: before phylloxera) comes from Friulano vines over 110 years old. Nutty-floral nose with notes of peach, rose petals, lime blossom, hawthorn, a hint of marzipan. Very dense with full soft body, elegant drinking flow. Great aromatic correspondence and length with fine acidity and light tannin on the finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"100% Tocai Friulano from up to 110-year-old vines with no roots. The mineral, well-founded bouquet reveals wonderful floral notes reminiscent of hawthorn and light flowers, delicately framed by ethereal notes, but also yellow stone fruit such as yellow peach compote and a touch of gooseberry. In the mouth it really explodes with a gigantic melt and then also shows delicate notes of white roses with fine acidity, seems to unite opposites, spicy final and you can literally feel the power and concentration of the old, rootless vines." Weinwisser

"Pleasant on the nose, fresh lemons, gooseberries, peach, hay, almonds, subtle marzipan. On the palate elegant with fine acidity, fresh fruit, lemons, gooseberries, fine spice and nice tannin on the finish. A versatile food companion that can still mature." Falstaff

"You could almost mistake this Friulano from old vines for a great Chardonnay from a warmer region (think low acidity). The chalky minerality and fine oak give structure and balance to this remarkable wine, the finish is long and complex with a hint of rose." James Suckling

Beautiful Verduzzo Friulano wrapped in shiny old gold and with delightful aromas from brittle to almonds, from apricot jam to caramel. The palate is also pampered by fine sweet aromas and a taste of integrity and persistence balanced by fresh acidity. SUPERIORE.DE

Now available again in small quantities after a break of many years: Dario Raccaro's Merlot is a deep, expressive wine that presents opulent tones of blackberry jam and blackcurrants. In other circumstances, such a fruit-driven wine would taste heavy and one-dimensional. However, thanks to the unique buffer of cool Collio air and the heavier clay soils, the wine shows a fascinating personality and, despite its concentration, a great elegance that increases with further aeration. A dense vein of minerals and spices is woven into the long finish. A true showpiece for this grape variety, which is also rarely found in the Collio. SUPERIORE.DE

Rich, deep dark ruby with violet glints. Its scent reminds of black fruits, liquorice, coffee and dark chocolate. Tasty and determined on the palate, full of exuberance and with great length. A very emotional Merlot in a class of its own. SUPERIORE.DE