What are the best wines of Friuli - Venezia Giulia - Italy?

Friuli Venezia Giulia: border land 

Friuli Venezia Giulia, commonly known as Friuli, is the most north-eastern region of Italy. It borders with Austria and Slovenia and for this reason has both cultural and gastronomic influences from both countries. 

The territory of Friuli Venezia Giulia is characterised by the presence of the Adriatic Sea, high mountains and the Karst plateau. The warm air of the sea meets the cooler air of the mountains creating unique conditions for the production of white wine.

Friuli Venezia Giulia has a long history of wine production, as the region was on the Mediterranean spice route, so travellers passing through Macedonia and Anatolia brought vines, contributing to the development of wine production.

A crucial step was taken in the 1960s, when the region's winegrowers pioneered modern white wine-making techniques in Italy. 

Wine  

In Friuli Venezia Giulia there are 20,000 hectares of vineyards producing 1.2 million hectolitres of wine per year, 750,000 of which are DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata): Friuli Venezia Giulia produces 4 DOCG, 9 DOC and 3 IGT. 

DOCG

Here is the list of the D.O.C.G. of Friuli Venezia Giulia:

• Colli Orientali del Friuli Picolit DOCG U
• Lison DOCG
• Ramandolo DOCG
• Rosazzo DOCG

Grape varieties

Alongside the grapes of international vines, Friuli Venezia Giulia is characterized by the presence of both international and autochthonous vines. Among these, the most characteristic autochthonous white wine of Friuli is  Ribolla Gialla Ribolla Gialla is an ancient indigenous grape that is used to make orange wines with structure and character, although lighter versions are also produced. 

• Vitovska
• Malvasia 
• Istrian Malvasia 
• Friulano 
• Tocai Friulano
• Verduzzo Friulano 
• Picolit 
• Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso 
• Schioppettino 
• Pignolo
• the Tazzelenghe: it is so called because it is so tannic that its astringency can "cut" the tongue (tazzalenghe means to cut the tongue in local dialect).

 International grape varieties include Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon and Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir.

Friuli Venezia Giulia cuisine 

Friulian wines make great pairings to traditional dishes: here are some of the great classics of Friulian cuisine

Starters

• Trieste-style granseole
• Rose of Gorizia

First courses

• Jòta triestina
• Cjarsons
• Bread dumpling

Second courses

• Rooster stew
• Codfish triestina style
• Boreto alla graisana
• Artichokes with anchovies
• The frico

Desserts

• Putizza