Friuli-Venezia Giulia is Italy's benchmark for characterful dry white wine. It sits in the country's far north-east, where the Alps drop towards the Adriatic and the border runs with Slovenia, and it makes more white wine than any other Italian region. The best of it has a precision and cut you rarely find further south, and this is also where the modern orange wine movement began.
Native grapes and international varieties done with precision
The heart of the region is Friulano, the native grape once called Tocai until a 2007 EU ruling handed the name to Hungary. At its best it is dry and savoury, with white peach, almond and a saline edge that makes it a natural partner for San Daniele prosciutto. Alongside it sits Ribolla Gialla, high in acidity and full of green apple and citrus, grown in these hills since at least 1289. International grapes are taken just as seriously, with Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Bianco made with real care in the top hillside zones of Collio and Colli Orientali. Explore the wider white wine range, or follow the grapes into our Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Bianco selections.
The birthplace of modern orange wine
In the village of Oslavia in Collio, two growers changed the wine world. Josko Gravner, dismayed by the pale, industrial whites of the 1980s, travelled to Georgia to learn to ferment in buried amphorae, while Stanko Radikon began macerating Ribolla Gialla on its skins for weeks from 1995. The results were amber, gently tannic and full of texture, and though critics were harsh at first, these skin-contact whites became the template for a style now copied worldwide. Browse our orange wine collection for the modern heirs of that revolution. The region also makes serious red wine from native Refosco and Schioppettino, and ranks among the finest of Italy.
Friuli-Venezia Giulia wine FAQ
What does Friulano taste like?
Dry and medium-bodied, with white peach, pear and a nutty, almond note, lifted by a savoury salinity that keeps it fresh. It is one of Italy's most food-friendly whites.
What exactly is orange wine?
It is white wine made like a red, with the juice left in contact with the grape skins. That gives an amber colour, gentle tannin and real texture. Friuli, led by Gravner and Radikon, is its modern home.
What food pairs with Friuli whites?
Seafood, shellfish and risotto suit the crisp styles, while fuller whites and orange wines handle cured meats, frico and washed-rind cheeses such as Montasio.