Collection: Friuli-Venezia Giulia

Friuli-Venezia Giulia lies in Italy's north-eastern corner, framed by the Dolomitterne to the north and the Adriaterhavet to the south. It is a predominantly mountainous region, and together with the neighbouring landscapes of Trentino-Alto Adige and Veneto it makes up north-eastern Italy, a corner of the country known for fresh wines with crisp acidity. At Copenhagen Wine, all our wines from here come precisely from Friuli-Venezia Giulia, so you will find a focused selection from one coherent region.

The climate is marked by warm summers and cold, harsh winters. Fog is less widespread here than in north-western Italy, but hail occurs more often. The soil rests largely on glacial moraine, a mixture of sand, gravel and sediment deposited during the ice age, while the best vineyards are often rich in limestone and marl. These are conditions that have traditionally produced wines with both freshness and structure.

The region has an eventful history. In the late 1800s, phylloxera ravaged the vineyards and led to replanting, often with foreign grape varieties. It was in this context that Merlot was introduced in 1880 by senator Pecile and count Savorgnan, and the grape has since gained a firm foothold here. Friuli-Venezia Giulia was moreover among the pioneering regions for modern winemaking in Italy, including cold fermentation, a technique that has helped highlight precision and purity in the area's wines.

In terms of production, the region is modest by Italian standards, around 18 million cases a year, corresponding to about 1.5 percent of the country's total production. In return, Friuli enjoys a strong reputation, and if you want to delve into the local specialities, you can explore our selection of Friulano or take a closer look at the region's Merlot. If you want to place the area in a broader context, you will find the rest of our Italian wines here.