Winemaker Notes
Blend: 90% Ribolla Gialla, 5% Riesling, 5% Friulano
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
Silvio Jermann's whites need little introduction. His premium Vintage Tunina and Dreams cuvées are legendary – and justifiably pricey– but this wine, which has been made for the past 35 years, offers amazing value for its quality and individuality. It shows vibrant hay, stone fruit and sweet orange characters along with a little spice from minimal oak. True to the Ribolla Gialla variety, the acidity is mouthwatering and lends great freshness to the bold, weighty palate. Drinking Window 2018 - 2021
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James Suckling
A flinty and fruity red with grapefruit and peach character. Medium body and a clean finish. Drink now. Screw cap.
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Wine Spectator
Minerally up front, this creamy, medium-bodied white weaves sleek acidity with notes of Meyer lemon and apricot fruit, as well as savory accents of fresh herb and smoke that linger on the finish. Drink now through 2026.
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Wine Enthusiast
Enticing field flower, citrus and yellow stone fruit scents come together in this vibrant white. The bright palate offers juicy tangerine, creamy nectarine and apple flavors, along with a tangy saline hint. Crisp acidity gives it a clean, refreshing finish.
With hundreds of white grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended white wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used in white wine blends, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a variety that creates a soft and full-bodied white wine blend, like Chardonnay, would do well combined with one that is more fragrant and naturally high in acidity. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
The source of some of Italy’s best and most distinctive white wines, Friuli-Venezia Giulia is where Italian, Germanic and Slavic cultures converge. The styles of wines produced in this region of Italy's far north-east reflect this merging of cultures. Often shortened to just “Friuli,” the area is divided into many distinct subzones, including Friuli Grave, Colli Orientali del Friuli, Collio Goriziano and Carso. The flat valley of Friuli Grave is responsible for a large proportion of the region’s wine production, particularly the approachable Pinot grigio and the popular Prosecco. The best vineyard locations are often on hillsides, as in Colli Orientali del Friuli or Collio. In general, Friuli boasts an ideal climate for viticulture, with warm sunny days and chilly nights, which allow grapes to ripen slowly and evenly.
In Colli Orientali, the specialty is crisp, flavorful white wine made from indigenous varieities like Friulano (formerly known as Tocai Friulano), Ribolla gialla and Malvasia Istriana.
Red wines, though far less common here, can be quite good, especially when made from the deeply colored, rustic Refosco variety. In Collio Goriziano, which abutts Slovenia, many of the same varieties are planted. International varieties like Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc are also common, but they tend to be Loire-like in style with herbaceous character and mellow tannins. Carso’s star grape is the red Teranno, notable for being rich in iron content and historically consumed for health purposes. It has an earthy, meaty profile and is often confused with the distinct variety Refosco.