We know it makes no sense to pit them against each other; they are two excellent grape varieties that have found a second home in the Friuli region. We’re recommending four of them—all of excellent quality at an affordable price.
We’ve selected two Sauvignon Blancs and two Pinot Grigios from Friuli, produced by wineries that are easy to find on the market thanks to their strong sales figures: Cantina Produttori di Cormòns and Collavini for the Sauvignon Blancs, and Conti Formentini and Puiatti for the Pinot Grigios.
The Cantina Produttori di Cormòns has hundreds of member growers, who collectively own about 380 hectares, and transforms all of this into high-quality wines that can hold their own in markets around the world. Among the wines it produces, the Vino della Pace is particularly noteworthy; it is made from nearly 600 different grape varieties, grown on-site but sourced from all over the world. Each year it features a different label, designed by famous artists, and the proceeds from sales go to charity.
Then Collavini, one of the most renowned wineries in the entire region. Led for decades by Manlio Collavini, one of the leading figures in Friuli’s wine industry and in the Colli Orientali area in particular. An entrepreneur and former member of parliament, and the grandson of the winery’s founder, it was he who purchased the Zucco-Cuccanea castle in 1966, thereby relocating the winery to Corno di Rosazzo. Today, Manlio’s two sons, Giovanni and Luigi, also work alongside him in managing the winery.
The historic Conti Formentini winery was acquired several years ago by the Gruppo Italiano Vini, which has provided it with a strong foundation consisting of the production of the winegrowers who were once members of the Steverjan cooperative winery in San Floriano del Collio. Today, it offers well-crafted wines that offer excellent value for the price.
Last but not least is the Puiatti winery, now owned by the Angelini Wines & Estates group. Its historic founder was Vittorio Puiatti, a charismatic winemaker and producer of imposing stature and boundless talent. His guiding principles remain at the winery: varietal wines and no oak, seeking to highlight the terroir as much as possible. The winery promotes sustainable practices, including organic fertilization, moderate irrigation, biological pest control, and biodiversity restoration programs.
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- Cantina Produttori Cormòns, Collio Sauvignon 2021
- Collavini, Collio Sauvignon Blancfumat 2021
- Conti Formentini, Collio Pinot Grigio 2021
- Cantina Puiatti, Friuli Pinot Grigio 2021
