We often talk about Sauvignon, this aromatic white that is much loved around the world. We offer three affordable Sauvignons from Friuli (one from Collio and two from Colli Orientali), all of which are worth uncorking.
Just recently, following one of the many chats we have in the newsroom perhaps in the evening, perhaps over a nice glass of wine (by chance a Friulian Sauvignon), Daniele Cernilli wrote an editorial that talked about Sauvignon. In presenting the various zones, he had obviously also talked about the Friuli and hence the idea of proposing some with characteristics suitable for this column, which means price within 15 euros in wine shops. In Friuli, the Sauvignon
has found extremely favorable pedoclimatic conditions in the hill country. In fact, here it gives excellent results in terms of complexity and taste-olfactory balance and is characterized by an excellent aromatic heritage.
The Friulian Sauvignons we chose are produced by these companies:
Specogna, on the border between Colli Orientali and Collio
Cristian and Michele Specogna (along with his wife Violetta) continue on the path their father Graziano has charted, even relaunching and flanking the classic estate wines with selections of the highest level.
Thus were born Identity and Duality, white and Sauvignon blends respectively, and also a sumptuous version of coppery Pinot Grigio.
We are in Corno di Rosazzo, in the Colli Orientali del Friuli but almost on the border with Collio, and the intermingling of the two areas is obvious and very happy.
Collavini, in Corno di Rosazzo
One of the best-known wineries in the entire region, led for decades by Manlio Collavini, one of the greatest personalities of Friuli viticulture and the Colli Orientali area in particular.
An entrepreneur and former parliamentarian, nephew of the company’s founder, it was he who bought the Zucco-Cuccanea castle in 1966, thus moving the wineries to Corno di Rosazzo .
Alongside Manlio in running the company today are his two sons Giovanni and Luigi.
Monviert, in the hills of Spessa
Monviert, which means “open mountain” in Friulian, lies on the hillside territory of Spessa in the Colli Orientali del Friuli. Once known as Ronchi San Giuseppe, it has been called that since 2013 and is owned by one of the branches of the Zorzettig family, well-known wine producers throughout the area.
The production is varied and very reliable, with impressive quality peaks. The “house specialty” is Friulano in several of its expressions.
TO READ THE WINE DESCRIPTIONS, WITH SCORE AND AVERAGE SHELF PRICE, CLICK ON THE TABS BELOW.
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