Miani

The boutique winery Miani and the great winegrower Enzo Pontoni with his penchant for perfectionism are already a myth during his lifetime. The tiny, inconspicuous farmhouse located in the middle of the fields of the Friuli Colli Orientali DOC in the municipality of Buttrio is known exclusively for its cult wines. The wines that achieve the highest prices and ratings are usually so scarce that even renowned wine critics hardly catch a drop from the battery of bottles, which comprises at least eight labels and has so far never reached five-digit annual production figures. As his advice is in great demand, the entire regional wine-growing sector benefits from the high level of competence of the owner of the estate, who is considered to be modest, silent and sometimes also somewhat difficult. Pontoni first worked as an engineer, but then took over the ancient vineyards from his late father out of a true passion for viticulture.

On the small farm, named after the family name of his mother, Enzo Pontoni cultivates in the majority of the rented plots, besides the international varieties Merlot, Cabernet and Chardonnay, also local grapes like Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso, Pignolo, Tazzelenghe, Friulano, Ribolla Gialla and Schioppettino according to strict biological principles. In winter, the vines are rigorously pruned by the ingenious winegrower, who is obsessed with his work. Almost no grape is good enough for the uncompromising loner to be processed in the undemanding but more than sufficient cellar. Each vineyard is treated by Pontoni according to its own microclimate so that the specific personality of the vines is fully expressed. The whites and reds are usually vinified by the winegrower in large oak barrels without temperature control. So that he can take care of the essentials with infinite patience, a good friend was hired for marketing and sales without further ado.

The winery, located near the border with Slovenia, produces complex and sophisticated wines that are often inaccessible and idiosyncratic in their youth, but later radiate great class and personality. While the internationally renowned white wines of the Miani winery are very pure - the Sauvignon Blanc is a typical example - the reds also play their part not only in Italy's first wine league: some wine connoisseurs even consider the red wines to be one of the greatest highlights of the present. SUPERIORE.DE

"Enzo Pontoni literally lives in his vineyards, at home only for lunch and dinner. I can't remember many wines that I would rather have on my dining table. The wines are among the best that have ever been produced anywhere."Robert Parker

"He is undisputedly the master, numerous are his students – for the benefit of the entire Friulian wine culture."Gambero Rosso