While decidedly old-world in technique and utterly classic for the region – it doesn’t get much more Friuli than Friuliano – there’s nothing staid about Visintini’s ‘Anfora’ offering. It’s a wine that feels surprisingly modern (especially given the estate’s century-plus history) but also somehow ingrained; varietally correct and expressive but with a little added oomph. 100% hand-harvested Friulano macerates for about 38 days in terracotta amphora (Georgian qvevri) – imparting, in the end, a luscious golden hue and texture to the wine, versus anything tannic or astringent (or particularly ‘orange’). It ages for another year in amphora, and one in bottle before release. Slightly veiled at first pass, the nose unfolds slowly, first fresh white flowers, then pulpy melon, tangerine, hay, and sage. An earthy, old-school-made-new-again cuvée, marked on the palette by notes of almonds, sun-baked stones, golden apple, and mint, with just the right amount of acidity to balance out the full bodied nature of the wine.
Siblings Palmira, Oliviero, and Cinzia Visintini are wine geeks of the best kind; the family are intellectual and inquisitive about wine, connected to the larger world outside of the Colli Orientali DOP and at the same time very aware of farms making interesting wine in Friuli, and a respectable portion of the original 13th century cellar is crammed with Palmira personal wine stash. Just six kilometers from the Slovenia border, the location of the Visintini winery has a history that dates back to the Middle Ages, to 1290 to be exact. Grandfather Domenico bought the estate and its ruined medieval tower in 1884, and since 2002, the siblings have run the place. Here in Corno di Rosazzo, you can see Slovenia from their farm – it’s the next line of low hills on the horizon, 6km away. The guiding principle in the cellar is to do as little as possible and in the fields Oliviero is charting a path toward biodynamic agriculture. After years of organic farming they are recently certified, and have begun making their own biodynamic composts and other preparations.
Shipping Policy
Due to the restrictions of many state laws, we only ship wine to those states where direct shipment from a retailer is permitted by law; currently we ship to all states EXCEPT Arkansas, Alabama, Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Kentucky, Indiana, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and Utah.
This list is subject to change without notice. In addition, each state imposes limitations on the amount of wine any particular resident may receive by direct shipment. To ensure that you are able to order wine for direct shipment from our website, please consult the specific state requirements for your state.
Please note that all orders must be placed by persons who are at least 21 years old, and that age verification will be required upon receipt of your wine. No wine will be delivered to obviously intoxicated persons and any person unable to provide age verification will forfeit their right to receive the shipment until identification is produced. In such circumstances, the order may either be held in storage at a local depot of the shipping company until appropriate identification is produced, or shipped back to Biondivino. All associated costs will be the responsibility of and be charged to the customer.
During periods of extreme weather, we recommend postponing your wine shipment via ground services to ensure the safest conditions of your order. Neither Biondivino nor our freight carriers will accept liability for weather-related damage. During business hours, orders are immediately packaged and scheduled for delivery. Orders may not be cancelled once they have been shipped (in the possession of the shipping carrier). A re-routing may be requested by the customer after shipment, but the customer will be responsible for any associated fees charged by the shipping carrier.
Title to, and ownership of, all wine passes from Biondivino to the purchaser in the State of California and the purchaser takes all responsibility for shipping it from California to his/her home state. By arranging for transportation of the wine, Biondivino is providing a service to, and acting on behalf of the purchaser. By utilizing this service from Biondivino, purchaser is representing that he/she is acting in compliance with his/her local and state laws regarding the purchase, transportation and delivery of wine. The purchaser represents that he/she has obtained any required permission, paid any required fees, is working through properly licensed intermediaries where required, is legally entitled to take possession of wine and is legally entitled to take quantities ordered.
Some of our products are sold on a "pre-arrival" or "futures" basis. These products are explicitly indicated as "pre-arrivals" or "futures" on our website and newsletter. Biondivino will notify you by email when your "pre-arrivals" or "futures" have arrived and are ready to be shipped. You will be given the opportunity to coordinate the proper shipping address and method (we won't automatically ship out pre-arrival wines when they arrive).
Shipping Policy
Due to the restrictions of many state laws, we only ship wine to those states where direct shipment from a retailer is permitted by law; currently we ship to all states EXCEPT Arkansas, Alabama, Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Kentucky, Indiana, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and Utah.
This list is subject to change without notice. In addition, each state imposes limitations on the amount of wine any particular resident may receive by direct shipment. To ensure that you are able to order wine for direct shipment from our website, please consult the specific state requirements for your state.
Please note that all orders must be placed by persons who are at least 21 years old, and that age verification will be required upon receipt of your wine. No wine will be delivered to obviously intoxicated persons and any person unable to provide age verification will forfeit their right to receive the shipment until identification is produced. In such circumstances, the order may either be held in storage at a local depot of the shipping company until appropriate identification is produced, or shipped back to Biondivino. All associated costs will be the responsibility of and be charged to the customer.
During periods of extreme weather, we recommend postponing your wine shipment via ground services to ensure the safest conditions of your order. Neither Biondivino nor our freight carriers will accept liability for weather-related damage. During business hours, orders are immediately packaged and scheduled for delivery. Orders may not be cancelled once they have been shipped (in the possession of the shipping carrier). A re-routing may be requested by the customer after shipment, but the customer will be responsible for any associated fees charged by the shipping carrier.
Title to, and ownership of, all wine passes from Biondivino to the purchaser in the State of California and the purchaser takes all responsibility for shipping it from California to his/her home state. By arranging for transportation of the wine, Biondivino is providing a service to, and acting on behalf of the purchaser. By utilizing this service from Biondivino, purchaser is representing that he/she is acting in compliance with his/her local and state laws regarding the purchase, transportation and delivery of wine. The purchaser represents that he/she has obtained any required permission, paid any required fees, is working through properly licensed intermediaries where required, is legally entitled to take possession of wine and is legally entitled to take quantities ordered.
Some of our products are sold on a "pre-arrival" or "futures" basis. These products are explicitly indicated as "pre-arrivals" or "futures" on our website and newsletter. Biondivino will notify you by email when your "pre-arrivals" or "futures" have arrived and are ready to be shipped. You will be given the opportunity to coordinate the proper shipping address and method (we won't automatically ship out pre-arrival wines when they arrive).