Eating in Friuli: mix white wines and dreams
Posted by Claudia | |
Friuli is a region which has an exciting discovery for every wine-lover! Why is so famous? Friuli region has a world-wide reputation for producing Italy’s best white wines. The north east corner of Italy, bordering Slovenia and Austria, until the end of the First World War was part of the Austro–Hungarian empire.ot only San Daniele and frico to delight you and your family. Not only Udine and Trieste, the gorgeous capital with a lot of osterie and restaurant, pubs and agriturismo, not to mention a famous University! Tradition and modernity, the Austrian borders and a different sense of being Italian here make a magic environment where the tourist can breath still a genuine and sane feeling of countryside and peasant life, though wild nature and breathtaking mountains.
Here in friuli the masters of wine creates bouquet with marvellous fruity grapes that thanks to some peculiar conditions of the ground and the soil mix it up in a miracle!
Among the grapes that are grown here, white wines represent almost two-thirds of production. The Colli Orientali are smart hillside well-known for the incredible whites: the traditional varieties such as Tocai Friulano, Picolit, Ribolla Gialla and Verduzzo are produced here as well as the international varieties (Pinot Bianco, Riesling, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon and Chardonnay). With a lovely minerality underlying the fruit, rich in taste and complex.
Are any reds here? Of course. Friuli-Venezia Giulia wines are mostly white, as to be said and underlined, but we can also add that exceptional reds can be found at the same time. Do not forget that Friuli Grave is in fact a totally red wine area. The range varies from Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc to Merlot, Schiopettino and Refosco. The red wine varieties are decidedly cool-climate and this is why you can still find “un buon rosso” in this almost white wine land.
It is amazing to think that even though Friuli is a tiny region compared to Tuscany or Piedmont, and the wines produced on its high hills and mountains are indeed only 2% of the overall Italy’s production, those wines (especially the whites) are truly comparable to the great wines produced in above mentioned Piedmont and Tuscany!!!
You need to Come over and immerge yourself in the beauty of Carso and Udine!
The local wines are rich and incredibly diverse and differentiate thanks to the number of grape varieties that are used in their blends. The creation of exceptional wines is quite a tradition, kept as a precious secret by the local winemakers.
The famous white wine produced in this region is the Tocai Friulano. A little curiosity: in order to avoid confusion that sometimes aroused between a Hungarian grape called Tokaj and a French wine called Tokay, the EU has asked to change the names for the French and Friuli grapes in 2006.
Which are the other fab local whites? Besides Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, worthy to try is Müller-Thurgau. You have to try also the great Ribolla Gialla, the famous Riesling Italiaco and Riesling Renano, not to mention the extraordinary Traminer Aromatico. A note deserves Malvasia Istriana, to taste with the Adriatic seafood recipes.
Among the red produced in Friuli – Venezia Giulia we need to mention the variety you can find in Collio (Collio Cabernet), Merlot, Pignolo, Pinot Nero, Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso and Tazzelenghe
Some interesting infos for a unique red wine: Terrano is a wine made with the Refosco grape grown in characteristic red soil of Carso. The specific gradient of the sun and the soil of the Carso area make a red wine low in alcohol, prescribed by doctors to heal digestive problems as well as to patients who need iron!!!
So not only tasty but also good to help you in some health problems. The food of the Gods is here in Friuli!
Recent Comments