“Illivio” Friuli Colli Orientali DOC 2021 – Livio Felluga

The grapes to produce the “Illivio” Friuli Colli Orientali DOC Livio Felluga were hand picked in small crates. Then they were carefully destemmed and left to macerate for a short period. Next, the fruit is soft crushed. The must obtained is then allowed to settle. The now-clarified must ferments at controlled temperatures in small casks of French oak, where it matures for about ten month, followed by a further two months in bottle before release.

The Livio Felluga estate now owns 200 hectares in Rosazzo, divided into 300 vineyard parcels, and is now run by Livio’s four children (Andrea, Maurizio, Elda and Filippo). The energy injected into the estate by the younger generation has been harnessed by consultant viticulturalist/winemaker Stefano Chioccioli. As a result of their combined work, the whites have acquired more intense and focused flavours, seldom achieved in Friuli. The soils are marl and sandstone flysch of Eocene origin. The vines are Guyot-trained, with an ecologically sustainable approach to viticulture.

There are few producers who have been more important in defining the quality image of Italian white wines than Livio Felluga. Their landmark ‘Terre Alte’ was first produced in 1981, and they have continued to make innovative and consistently high-quality wines ever since. The way in which winemaker Andrea Felluga has embraced screwcap is another example of his forward-thinking approach. After experimenting for five years, Andrea now feels confident that screwcap is the right step for the Felluga wines and that the closure will help retain the freshness and perfume that mark these wines out from the crowd. The quality of the Felluga range can largely be attributed to the fruit being grown on their 155 hectare property, which is divided into 300 parcels. The estate’s vineyards straddle provincial borders, being located in both Colli Orientali and Collio. Their most prized possession is the holding at Rosazzo, where their Merlot and the grape varieties used in the famed ‘Terre Alte’ blend (Friulano, Pinot Bianco and Sauvignon Blanc) are planted. Their Pinot Grigio is wonderfully intense yet balanced, while the Friulano is the most restrained and well-defined example of this variety produced.