Friuli
Italy's finest whites, and the cradle of the orange-wine revival.
Friuli: the home of Friulano and orange wine
In Italy's far northeast, against the Slovenian border, Friuli makes the country's most respected white wines, and it is where the modern orange-wine movement was reborn. From crisp, characterful Friulano to serious Pinot Grigio and amber skin-contact whites, this is white-wine country for people who think they know Italian white. Near enough to Venice to add on, distinctive enough to deserve its own trip.
The wines
Friulano is the local signature, dry and savoury with a almond note. Pinot Grigio here has real substance, far from the watery export version. The Collio and Colli Orientali hills also produce the amber, skin-contact whites that put the region at the centre of the orange-wine world.
Where to go
The hilly Collio zone near Cormons, and the Colli Orientali, hold the best vineyards, dotted with small growers. Udine is the elegant regional city, and the border villages blur happily into neighbouring Slovenia.
Eat
Friulian food mixes Italian and Central European, with cured San Daniele ham, frico cheese crisps and hearty soups. The textured whites handle all of it.
Getting there
Fly into Venice or Trieste, then drive about 90 minutes to the hills. A car is best for the small, scattered estates.
Know the wine before you go.
The app teaches you Friulano and orange wine in five minutes, then helps you order it with confidence. Learn the grape, then come back and plan the trip.
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Friuli, quick answers.
What wine is Friuli known for?
Italy's most highly regarded white wines, from crisp Friulano and serious Pinot Grigio to the amber skin-contact whites that drove the orange-wine revival.
What is orange wine?
White wine made with extended skin contact, like a red, giving it amber colour, tannin and savoury depth. Friuli, with neighbouring Slovenia, is its modern home.
Can I combine Friuli with Venice?
Yes. The wine hills are about 90 minutes from Venice, so Friuli works well as an extension of a northeast Italy trip.
