Friuli: One of Italy’s Top White Wine Hotspots

There is a reason why a double-headed eagle is proudly emblazoned on the entrance gate of the Russiz Superiore winery: the area was part of the Habsburg Empire until 1918, and a dozen bloody battles were fought on the nearby Isonzo plain. Today peace has returned, but tradition lives on. You can find it reflected not only in the region’s cuisine but also in the range of grape varieties grown. Pinot Bianco (Pinot Blanc), Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc were introduced here – as in Styria or South Tyrol – as early as the 19th century. Until a few decades ago, Franconia (Blaufränkisch) and Riesling Italico (Welschriesling) were also to be found growing amongst the gently rolling hills.