LLS Portfolio Book

Wines of Northern Italy

Friuli-Venezia Giulia From the Roman Empire, Friuli-Venezia Giulia was referred to as the “Region for the Veneti,” named for the local “Veneti” tribe. 600 years after the fall of the empire, the Lombards formed the first duchy in Italy, named “Forum Liuli,” which was later shortened to Friuli. Until the 1960s, Friuli-Venezia Giulia was an area of deep poverty. The region held on to its linguistic autonomy, as the majority of inhabitants speak Friulano, a Romance language with significant ties to Slavic. The cuisine of this secluded region is heavily influenced by the flavors of its Austrian and Slavic neighbors, and consequently meat is prevalent in the diet. Prosciutto di San Daniele is a great source of regional pride as are the local cheeses including Montasio and Ricotta (often smoked and aged for grating.) Borrowing heavily from nearby Austria, Germany, and its Slavic neighbors, Friuli-Venezia Giulia crafts modern, crisp, clean white wines from grapes like Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Bianco, Chardonnay, and Pinot Grigio. Most of the winemaking regions of Friuli-Venezia Giulia exist in close proximity to the region’s border with the Veneto. In fact, it shares the Prosecco DOC and Lison DOCG with Veneto. All styles of wine are made here, but it is most-noted for mineralic white wines with significant acid character.

WINES OF NORTHERN ITALY

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