Friuli

Friuli – Venezia Giuia /  Slovenia

Capital of Friuli is Trieste 

Situated in the northeast corner of Italy bordering Austria to the north, Slovenia to the east, with the Adriatic Sea, and Venice to the south this state has been captured and a huge part of many wars that have shaped the Friuli we know today.  Friuli was captured by Austira in World War one and was the frontline in the battle of Caporetto and were it not for Italian victory much of Friulin heritage may have been lost.  Still it was not until the Italian Independence war that Friuli regained it’s territory.  The aftermath of all this occupation has made Friuli one of the most diverse food and wine region in all of Italy.

Friuli is known for it’s rustic cooking.  It has a bounty of natural resources most notably its vast apple fields.  These are used to feed the pigs for San Daniele prosciutto that is then left to hang in the cool mountainous air. Also common are Apple Strudels that were brought by the Germans.  You will be able to find Montasio an aged semi hard cheese made from cow’s milk, loads of polenta, venison, rabbit, and other small game along with Cutlet fish and Branzino from the Adriatic.  In fact the abundance and variety of goods greatly influences Friulian cuisine as can be exhibited by Gubana, an ancient  pastry made from Hazelnuts, pine seeds, Almonds, and Macaroons, blended with Rum and Marsala. The great natural bounty also contributes to Friulian culture and customs.  Porcini hunting season is an important time for Friuians, so much so, they celebrate every year with a festival in September in Cosenza. 

Friuli has always been an active wine making region.  The native grape varietals Refosco, Schioppettino, Piclot, Tocai Friulano made up 100 percent of Friuli’s wine production until the late 19th century.  It wasn’t until Friuli was attacked by phylloxera (a small root eating insect) that native farmers decided it was time to bring in international varieties.  There reasoning was that international varieties would bring better quality to the wines, however the complete destruction of the native varieties left them little choice anyhow.  It is a good thing that the Friulian farmers decided to plant Merlot, once phylloxera got to Bordeaux the French had to re claim Merlot from Friulian clippings.

DOC/DOCG:(to name a few)

Collio di Orientali del Friuli Picolit DOCG: Picolit is the grape grown for this designation and is a super rare and hard to work with grape as discussed above.    These grapes are late harvested by hand and like Amarone placed on drying racks to wither up for three months increasing the sugar levels and flavor characteristics of the grape.

Carso DOC: Carso meaning “Land of rock” which refers to the limestone that has been broken and torn from many years of cultivation exposing this rock to the eye.  Carso is boarding Slovenia and its specialty is Refosco.

Collio Orientali del Friuli/Collio Goriziano/Brda: Collio meaning hills has a large range of mostly white wines that are produced in this vastly hilly area overlapping the Slovenian boarder.  Making this is an interesting Designation.  Made up mostly calcareous marl and sandstone we find ourselves situated half in Friuli and half in Slovenia.  The Italian half is known as Collio Orientali del Friuli to the north and Collio Gorziano to the south, more simply known as Collio with the Slovenian half is known as Brda.   This region in particular makes it difficult to know if a wine is Slovenian or Friulian and in many cases the vineyards overlap the countries boarder.  For example Movia has majority of his vineyards in Friuli but his mailbox is in Slovenia and his wines are labels Brda.