Friuli Annia DOC

One of Friuli's smallest DOCs, on the gravelly alluvial plain near the Marano lagoon, named for the Roman road that ran through it. The wines are simple, correct plain-country varietals: light Pinot Grigio and Friulano with green apple and almond, and soft Merlot and Refosco with red plum and a herbal edge, all with the sea-breeze freshness the zone's few producers talk up. Almost everyone here labels under Friuli DOC instead, so bottles actually carrying the name are rare.