The finest wines from Collio: indigenous and international varietals in 11 labels under 20 euro

Speaking of great Italian whites without mentioning Collio is virtually impossible. This region, located in Friuli Venezia Giulia's eastern part, is where some of the country's most exceptional wines are crafted. Covering approximately 1500 hectares, the denomination encompasses gentle hills with a distinctive type of soil – layered terrains where marl alternates with sandstone, rich in minerals known as "ponca." It is precisely this soil that imparts depth and elegance to the wines, without sacrificing a certain fullness of flavor.

Regarding cultivated grape varieties, the list is extensive, but we will focus on a few. One of the main grapes is the Istrian Malvasia, holding a prominent position among the broader Malvasia family. This grape likely found its way here through sailors of the Serenissima Republic shuttling between the Italian shores of the Upper Adriatic and Greek ports, where Malvasia is believed to originate. Records of this grape date back to the 14th century, and over the centuries, it has morphologically differentiated from other Malvasia varieties found in Italy.

In addition to indigenous grapes (including Istrian Malvasia, Friulano, and Ribolla Gialla, often blended to create Collio Bianco), the vineyards of Collio host numerous international grapes that have been cultivated here for centuries and are now perfectly adapted to these hills. Sauvignon, with its origins traced to France, contested between Bordeaux and the Loire Valley, seems to have arrived in Italy around the late 18th century, entering through the gateway of Friuli Venezia Giulia. Similarly, Pinot Bianco and Pinot Grigio, both mutations of the prestigious Pinot Noir, also made their way from France.

Collio's Wines with the Best Quality-to-Price Ratio for the 2024 Berebene Guide by Gambero Rosso

We've highlighted these grape varieties as they take center stage in our feature. Below is a list of Collio wines selected from the 2024 Gambero Rosso Berebene guide – a guide that honors wines with the best quality-to-price ratio. These white wines have received scores of 90 points or above and are priced at less than 20 euro, making them excellent choices available at wine shops:

• Collio Bianco Uve Autoctone 2021 -  Cantina Produttori Cormòns
• Collio Malvasia 2022 - Francesco Vosca
• Collio Malvasia 2022 - Maurizio Buzzinelli
• Collio Malvasia 2021 - Subida di Monte
• Collio Pinot Bianco 2022 - Ferruccio Sgubin
• Collio Pinot Bianco 2021 - Terre del Faet
• Collio Pinot Bianco 2022 - Alessio Komjanc
• Collio Pinot Grigio 2022 - Isidoro Polencic
• Collio Pinot Grigio 2022 - Branko
• Collio Sauvignon 2022  - Vigna del Lauro
• Collio Sauvignon 2022 Tiare - Tiare Roberto Snidarcig