Friuli Venezia Giulia

Friuli has long been famous for its Bordeaux style red blends and French grape whites, but in modern times the local grapes have come on strong. Whites from Ribolla Gialla and Friulano (aka Tocai) range from excellent values to expensive, top quality wines, and reds from Schioppettino and Ribolla Nera are great for those seeking medium bodied, more restrained wines than those found further south.

This is also the home of skin contact orange wine in Italy, a style adapted from the Republic of Georgia by Josko Gravner, and picked up by others in the region. Friuli still makes some of the very best.