Other Zones in Friuli Colli Orientali DOC(G)
Other Zones in Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Wine for Dessert?
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Wine: White wine
Kind: Sweet wine
Taste: Semi sweet to sweet
Volume: Strong
Min. alcohol: 16%
Mandatory Storage: Min. 2 years
Storage potential: 5 years
The aromatic dessert wine Colli Orientali del Friuli Picolit received its DOC in 1979 and producers have since struggled to reach the top of the success ladder. They succeeded in 2006, when the wine finally received its DOCG status. The production center of this type of wine is located in the Cialla DOC subzone, in the Prepotto municipality, in the province of Udine.
At one point, Colli Orientali del Friuli Picolit DOCG was proclaimed as Italy’s answer to the French Sauternes, and although it is probably to promise too much, the two wines in many ways are quite similar.
Colli Orientali del Friuli Picolit DOCG’s history goes way back, its heyday being when the agronomist and count, Fabio Asquini (1726-1818), successfully sold his Picolit wines to European Courts in hand-blown, green bottles. After having tasted the golden nectar, the Austrian Emperor allegedly said (or probably shouted) “This wine is better than any other wine.” Moreover, the Pope also had an eye for the Picolit delight. Whether these gentlemen knew more about the wine than the effects of alcohol is an entirely different issue.
Unfortunately, the Picolit grape was not particularly productive, thus in the 1970s, when bad wines were cascading out of Italy, Colli Orientali del Friuli Picolit not only had a difficult time keeping up quantitatively, but the small quantity also cost a small fortune. At the same time, dull, anonymous and meaningless drops certainly did not benefit the business.
A few years ago, however, there was a turning point. Vinification was approached differently, for example wine was stored in barriques, which had as result the fact that today, Colli Orientali del Friuli Picolit DOCG can compete with the greatest dessert wines in the world. This is also reflected in the price.
As one can deduce, the wine is made from the Picolit grape (100%). Vinification implies slightly drying the grapes, either on the vine or in baskets in specially-equipped drying rooms. Although traditionalists are using special drying rooms, it is allowed to use less romantic methods, such as mechanical ventilated rooms.
The wine has a rather intense golden color and a distinctive, aromatic, sweet scent. The taste, either sweet or sweetish, is warm, harmonious, delicate and sometimes with hints of wood from the barrel aging.
Colli Orientali del Friuli Cialla Picolit DOCG is simply a “meditation” wine, enjoyed during those quiet moments by the fireplace or with a delicious dessert, with cheese or dry sweets.
The required maturation is 2 years, mostly in small wooden barrels, and the wine is released on the market after September 1st of the second year following the harvest.
As previously mentioned, this unusual dessert wine is also produced in the main, slightly wider zone of Friuli Colli Orientali DOC, where it is bears the shorter name, Colli Orientali del Friuli Picolit DOCG. This version implies adding local, white grapes.
A barrel aged Colli Orientali del Friuli Cialla Picolit Riserva DOCG is also produced. This wine has a mandatory maturation period of 4 years and is released on the market on November 1st in the fourth year following the harvest.
Other Wines From Friuli Colli Orientali Cialla DOC
Other Wines From Friuli Colli Orientali DOC(G)
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