Winemaker Notes
Friulano is made from Tocai grapes. It is mainly produced from the plot in Brazzano, near the cellar on the South-West side of the hill. The must comes from a particularly light pressing procedure to avoid the removal of flavours and aromas from the skins that, in the case of Friulano, can become partic- ularly coarse and bitter, as well as to guarantee its salty feature. It is left to ferment in small 250 litre French oak shafts, to make the unique character of the terroir fully emerge.
The wine, with its salty and fresh flavour, matches well with dishes with a prominent salty or bitter taste, and seasonings based on vegetable oils. It withstands extreme parings that would be impossible for other wines, but still respecting the delicacy of the dish. The Friulano is excellent with seawater fish (white), oysters, ham, red raw meat, dry and salty cow cheeses like Parmigiano, vegetables, especially the bitter ones, eggs, olives, soy sauce.
Critical Acclaim
All VintagesA nice choice for a buttery lobster, the Borgo del Tiglio 2017 Collio Friulano (white label) is a terrific wine that offers an authentic sense of place and draws a precise portrait of this versatile, indigenous grape. There's so much transparency here, you can almost smell the compacted sandstone characteristic of Friuli's Ponca soils and the soft breezes that bring salinity and wild aromas along from the Adriatic. The biggest asset of this wine is its startling freshness and liveness. Citrus, pear and quince are delivered over a mid-weight, creamy mouthfeel.
Borgo del Tiglio produces wine from three parcels all located on the hills of the DOC Collio area. It is one of the most endorsed areas for white wines in Italy and it consists of a small hill chain located on the most eastern limb of Northern Italy.
The closeness to the Adriatic Sea and to the Julian Alps makes for significant climatic differences depending on the exposure of the area. The soil too, generated by the fragmentation of marl and sandstone layers that form the subsoil, varies depending on the area.
Since 1987 the wine cellar has been engaged in studying these differences in order to bring out the terroir of its wines. The aim is to specialize the three properties of Brazzano, Ruttars and Ca’ della Vallade in the cultivation of those grapes that are best suited to be cultivated on a certain site.
The source of some of Italy’s best and most distinctive white wines, Friuli-Venezia Giulia is where Italian, Germanic and Slavic cultures converge. The styles of wines produced in this region of Italy's far north-east reflect this merging of cultures. Often shortened to just “Friuli,” the area is divided into many distinct subzones, including Friuli Grave, Colli Orientali del Friuli, Collio Goriziano and Carso. The flat valley of Friuli Grave is responsible for a large proportion of the region’s wine production, particularly the approachable Pinot grigio and the popular Prosecco. The best vineyard locations are often on hillsides, as in Colli Orientali del Friuli or Collio. In general, Friuli boasts an ideal climate for viticulture, with warm sunny days and chilly nights, which allow grapes to ripen slowly and evenly.
In Colli Orientali, the specialty is crisp, flavorful white wine made from indigenous varieities like Friulano (formerly known as Tocai Friulano), Ribolla gialla and Malvasia Istriana.
Red wines, though far less common here, can be quite good, especially when made from the deeply colored, rustic Refosco variety. In Collio Goriziano, which abutts Slovenia, many of the same varieties are planted. International varieties like Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc are also common, but they tend to be Loire-like in style with herbaceous character and mellow tannins. Carso’s star grape is the red Teranno, notable for being rich in iron content and historically consumed for health purposes. It has an earthy, meaty profile and is often confused with the distinct variety Refosco.
Thriving in the NE Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia near the border of Slovenia, Friulano makes a uniquely high-pitched and vibrant white with a delicate perfume. Extensive in the area by the early 1930s, today Friulano grows in all of the best zones and is usually, but not always, bottled as a single-varietal wine. Somm Secret— The Friulano grown today, while named for its present home of Friuli, is actually the Sauvignonasse grape, a minor cultivar that came from Bordeaux.