Collection: Friuli DOC

Friuli DOC takes you to the northeastern corner of Italy, where the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia lies between the Alps and the Adriatic Sea. It is a regional appellation that covers the entire region, that is, the provinces of Udine, Gorizia, Pordenone and Trieste, and on the label it may appear either as "Friuli" or "Friuli Venezia Giulia". The appellation was created as a DOC in 2016 and is thus one of Italy's youngest regional umbrella DOCs.

The idea behind it was to give the region a unified identity, not least for the varietal wines such as Pinot Grigio, which has made Friuli known far beyond Italy's borders. Friuli DOC does not replace the older and more specific sub-zones such as Collio and Colli Orientali del Friuli, but sits on top of them as a broader framework. So you can encounter both the local roots from the sub-zones and the larger, more recognisable designation in the same area.

Here predominantly white wines are made, and white wine is indeed what the region is first and foremost known for. Among the white grapes you will find Friulano, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Sauvignon and Ribolla Gialla. If you want to dig deeper into two of the most characterful local grapes, you can take a closer look at Friulano and Ribolla Gialla, both of which capture something of the area's expression. Red wines are also made, however, including from Merlot, Cabernet and the native Refosco, as well as sparkling wine.

It is a part of Italy that often flies a little under the radar compared with the big names from Toscana and Piemonte, but that is precisely why it is worth getting to know. If you want to place Friuli DOC in a larger context, you can explore both Friuli-Venezia Giulia as a whole and our page on Italy. Together they paint a picture of a corner of the country with a clear fondness for white wine that has both precision and charm.