The Italy Wine Project

Regions / Friuli-Venezia Giulia

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Friuli Grave DOC

Friuli's biggest DOC by far, covering the stony glacial plain that gives the zone its name, and the source of most of the region's Pinot Grigio and Merlot. The gravel drains fast and the wines are correspondingly light and clean: Pinot Grigio with pear and citrus, Friulano with almond, Merlot soft with red plum and a green note, Refosco tart and peppery. Vistorta's Merlot and the whites of Di Lenardo and Pighin show the plain can do better than bulk. Most of it is drink-now value.

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Bottles I'm chasing

ProducerWinePriceBuy
Pighin
Friuli Grave Pinot Grigio
One of the most reliable Italian Pinot Grigios in the US; pear, lemon, dry and clean.
$13 to $17Wine-Searcher
Vistorta
Friuli Grave Merlot
Brandino Brandolini's organic estate Merlot; plum, cedar, graphite, fine tannin, and it ages.
$25 to $32Wine-Searcher
Di Lenardo
Friuli Grave Friulano
Fresh, unoaked Friulano with green pear, white flowers and a bitter-almond snap.
$14 to $18Wine-Searcher