Preview Tre Bicchieri 2021. The best wines of Friuli Venezia Giulia

The best wines of Friuli Venezia Giulia

It seemed as if last year's exploit was an unrepeatable success, yet this year Friuli Venezia Giulia maintained its high quality level and confirmed its excellence. Naturally, the vast majority of awards went to Collio and Colli Orientali, but there were some splendid exceptions, showing that even in the plains, in the right areas, prestigious results can be obtained. This year some 26 wines earned Tre Bicchieri. Sauvignon stands out, having provided 6 of these. 3 were 2019s: Borgo Conventi, Tiare and Volpe Pasini's Zuc di Volpe. 2 more were from 2018: Viarte's Liende and Romans' Pière di Vie. 1 is a 2016 reserve, the Russiz Superiore. Even as a monovarietal, Friuliano (which is behind almost all the region's blends) made a name for itself: there's Schiopetto's, an icon by now, Castello di Spessa's Rassauer and the one produced by Torre Rosazza (all 2019s). They're accompanied by 2018s produced by I Ferretti della Luisa and, for the first time, Tenuta Stella.

The role of white wines

Speaking of firsts, we mention Polje's Pinot Grigio '19, which beat out the competition. In terms of Pinot Bianco, there were the usual accolades: Doro Princic and Vigneti le Monde, accompanied by an excellent version by Villa Russiz. Closing out the list of monovarietals are 2 whites produced using the 'ancestral method', with long maceration on the skins. They're the Ribolla Gialla Miklus Natural Art '15 by Draga and the Ribolla Gialla '10 by Damijan Podversic. 9 blends complete the picture: Livon's Braide Alte '18, Jermann's Capo Martino '18, Collavini's Broy '18, Ronco dei Tassi's Fosarin '18, Edi Keber's Collio K '18, Ronco Blanchis's Blanc de Blanchis '17, Tunella's BiancoSesto '18, La Roncaia's Eclisse '18 and Myò by Zorzettig's Fiori di Leonie '18. The fact that only white wines earned Tre Bicchieri attests to just how well suited the territory is to the typology. But there reds, sweet wines and sparklers also stood out during our selections and finals.

Tre Bicchieri 2021

• Braide Alte ’18 – Livon
• Capo Martino ’18 – Jermann
• Collio ’18 – Edi Keber
• Collio Bianco Blanc di Blanchis Ris. ’17 – Ronco Blanchis
• Collio Bianco Broy ’18 – Eugenio Collavini
• Collio Bianco Fosarin ’18 – Ronco dei Tassi
• Collio Friulano ’19 – Schiopetto
• Collio Friulano ’18 – Tenuta Stella
• Collio Friulano Rassauer ’19 – Castello di Spessa
• Collio Pinot Bianco ’19 – Doro Princic
• Collio Pinot Bianco ’19 – Villa Russiz
• Collio Pinot Grigio ’19 – Polje
• Collio Sauvignon ’19 – Tenuta Borgo Conventi
• Collio Sauvignon ’19 – Tiare – Roberto Snidarcig
• Collio Sauvignon Ris. ’16 – Russiz Superiore
• Eclisse ’18 – La Roncaia
• FCO Bianco Myò I Fiori di Leonie ’18 – Zorzettig
• FCO Biancosesto ’18 – Tunella
• FCO Friulano ’19 – Torre Rosazza
• FCO Sauvignon Liende ’18 – La Viarte
• FCO Sauvignon Zuc di Volpe ’19 – Volpe Pasini
• Friuli Isonzo Friulano I Ferretti ’18 – Tenuta Luisa
• Friuli Isonzo Sauvignon Piere ’18 – Vie di Romans
• Friuli Pinot Bianco ’19 – Vigneti Le Monde
• Miklus Natural Art Ribolla Gialla ’15 – Draga – Miklus
• Ribolla Gialla Selezione ’10 – Damijan Podversic