Tasting tours in Friuli Venezia Giulia

Wood: skilful chiseller of a wine’s peculiarities.

The Wine Tasting Tour organized by the SVC is an educational opportunity that takes us on a journey to explore territorial areas, wines, and production techniques.

This year’s destination was the Collio region in Friuli, where we delved into the particular methods of winemaking and aging in wood.

Thanks to the support of Cristiano Visintini, founder of Mastro Bottaio srl, we had the opportunity to visit several wineries that have been carefully experimenting with the use of this natural material for years.
 The choice of wood is made with great attention to the characteristics of the wine it will come into contact with; this approach is grounded in a deep technical knowledge, that allows producers to stand out by fully enhancing the qualities of their wines.

The selection of the essence, the type of roasting, and the duration of aging will therefore primarily aim to enhance the distinctive characteristics of the base grapes. In this region of northeastern Italy, the cultivation of white grapes is preferred: Ribolla Gialla, Chardonnay, Sauvignon and Tocai. The use of wood is seen as a complement, a condenser, capable of elevating the aromatic profile of the wines.

The contribution of wood is studied at various stages of the grape transformation process, each time resulting in new and surprising outcomes that more precisely align with the taste and aspirations of those who invest. The tastings we have conducted testify to the elegance that these techniques can impart to the final product, enhancing its potential to the fullest without ever overpowering the natural aromatic profile.

The environment where the barrels and barriques are stored must be carefully chosen or designed, with particular attention to temperature and humidity conditions, which are critical factors for the wood to and age properly.

 All the producers who hosted us greeted us warmly, offering the opportunity to experience tastings of high technical value in a pleasant and convivial atmosphere.

Being able to taste a wine while exploring the key production areas creates a connection between the vision guiding the transformation process and the diligent work done to achieve an excellent result.

We would like to express our gratitude following wineries for their kind hospitality:

• Azienda Agricola Sturm
• Jermann Winery
• Edi Simčič Winery