Region: Friuli-Venezia Giulia
History: Established as a DOC in 1970
Vineyard Area: Approx. 7,500 ha / 18,500 acres (C)
Production: Approx. 300,000 hl / 3,330,000 cases (C)
Principal White Grape Varieties: Chardonnay, Friulano, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Verduzzo
Principal Red Grape Varieties: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Merlot, Pinot Nero, Refosco
Styles and Wine Composition:
WHITE WINES
- Bianco (Wh): Any proportions of Chardonnay, Friulano, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and/or Verduzzo Friulano
- Chardonnay (Wh, WhFr): Minimum 95% Chardonnay + OAWG
- Friulano (Wh): Minimum 95% Friulano + OAWG
- Pinot Bianco (Wh, WhFr): Minimum 95% Pinot Bianco + OAWG
- Pinot Grigio (Wh): Minimum 95% Pinot Grigio + OAWG
- Riesling (Wh): Minimum 95% Riesling + OAWG
- Sauvignon (Wh): Minimum 95% Sauvignon Blanc + OAWG
- Traminer Aromatico (Wh): Minimum 95% Gewürztraminer + OAWG
- Verduzzo (Wh, WhSw, WhFr, WhFrSw): Minimum 95% Verduzzo + OAWG
- Superiore (all varietals)
- Riserva (Bianco, all varietals)
ROSATO WINES
- Rosato (Ro, RoFr): Any proportions of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Merlot, Pinot Nero, and/or Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso
RED WINES
- Rosso (Rd): Any proportions of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Merlot, Pinot Nero, and/or Refosco
- Cabernet (Rd): Minimum 95% Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and/or Carmenère + OARG
- Cabernet Franc (Rd): Minimum 95% Cabernet Franc + OARG
- Cabernet Sauvignon (Rd): Minimum 95% Cabernet Sauvignon + OARG
- Merlot (Rd): Minimum 95% Merlot + OARG
- Pinot Nero (Rd): Minimum 95% Pinot Nero + OARG
- Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso (Rd): Minimum 95% Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso + OARG
- Novello (Rosso)
- Superiore (all varietals)
- Riserva (Rosso, all varietals)
SPARKLING WINES
- Spumante (WhSp): Any proportions of Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, and/or Pinot Nero
- Chardonnay Spumante (WhSp): Minimum 85% Chardonnay; maximum 15% Pinot Nero; maximum 10% OAWG
- Pinot Bianco Spumante (WhSp): Minimum 85% Pinot Bianco; maximum 15% Pinot Nero; maximum 10% OAWG
- Pinot Nero Spumante (WhSp, RoSp): Minimum 95% Pinot Nero + OAWG
Note: The disciplinare specifies a 95% percentage for the varietal wines, but it also allows adding up to 10% must or wine from other similar-colored grapes from within the DOC, making the varietals potentially an 85% minimum of the stated variety.
Significant Production Rules:
- Minimum alcohol level: 10.5%, except 11.0% for Novello and nonvarietal Spumante and 11.5% for Superiore
- Residual sugar: Maximum 10 g/l (1.0%) for frizzante versions of Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, and Rosato; 10–40 g/l (1.0–4.0%) for Verduzzo; spumanti can range from extra brut to demisec
- Aging: For Riserva, minimum 2 years (ERD = November 11, V+2)
