Updated July 2023
Best Small Wineries to visit in Friuli and Goriska Brda
The Friuli / Goriska Brda wine region is a hidden gem in northeastern Italy. Rolling hills, lush vineyards, and charming old villages. Located on the border of Italy and Slovenia, the region shares the same terroir, but differs greatly in winemaking style and technique.
In addition to the wine and scenery, the food of Friuli / Goriska Brda is divine. You’ll find a mixture of Italian and Slovenian cuisine, influenced by the region’s proximity to the Adriatic Sea. Most menus offer fresh seafood, pasta, and grilled meats.
We’ve explored other regions on borders of states such as The Columbia River Gorge, but Friuli & Goriska Brda struck us as one of the most interesting (and beautiful) we’ve seen.
Quick Facts about Friuli & Goriska Brda Wine Region
- Location: Border of Western Slovenia and Northeastern Italy. Roughly 1.5 hours northeast of Venice, IT and 1 hr 15 min west of Slovenia’s capital Ljubljana.
- Grape Varieties: Friulano, Ribolla Gialla, Malvasia Istriana, Chardonnay, Pinot bianco, Pinot grigio and Sauvignon blanc. For reds, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Predominantly white.
- Climate: Mild mediterranean climate mixed with cold air currents from the Alps; ideal conditions for white wines.
- Soil: Sandstone and alternating layers of marl which originated millions of years ago.
How to visit Friuli & Goriska Brda
The closest major airport is Venice (VCE) and after it’s a 1.5 hr car ride or a short train ride. You could also fly into Ljubljana Slovenia and approach the region from the eastern side.
Once in the wine region, we highly recommend renting bikes to get around–this is always our preferred method to explore new wine regions and Friuli is one of the best. We recommend going through Cicli Mian as they have an excellent selection of top-of-the-line e-bikes.
Where to stay in the Friuli & Goriska Brda Wine Region
While you could base yourself in the city of Udine, or Cividale del Friuli, you’d still find yourself a ways out from any vineyards.
Instead, we recommend staying in a little village named Cormons, which is right on the border of Italy and Slovenia, and within biking distance to various vineyards and wineries.
Best wineries in Friuli & Goriska Brda
Pascolo
Alessandro Pascolo is a one-man show, doing the farming and the winemaking with a modest 6 hectares of vines in the Italian village of Collio. This translates into fewer than 2,000 cases of wine each year. Boutique size with excellent quality and a personal, dedicated tasting experience.
While Pascolo makes both whites and reds, the whites shine above all. The Malvasia is bright, crisp and has a whimsical saline quality to it. The Friulano (same grape as Tocai Friulano and Sauvignonasse and Sauvignon Vert) is a perfect counterpart with soft roundness and low acidity. Our favorite is the Studio Di Bianco–a beautiful blend of Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Friulano.
If you visit and find any Studio Di Bianco on hand, scoop them up; Alessandro doesn’t make it every year, as Botrytis plagues the late-ripening Riesling grapes.
EDI SIMCIC
Across the border in Goriska Brda is a slightly larger producer with 11 hectares under vine and 5,000 case production (this is small compared to California standards). Goriska Brda means hills in Slovenian (as Collio means hills in Italian).
We like the Malvasia here as well, along with their “Tokata”. They also produce Bordeaux style blends that are quite good. When visiting, make sure to ask for a quick cellar tour to get a glimpse at their unique grounds.
Terpin Franco
Back on the Italian side, this natural wine producer making some funky, tasty juice. Skin contact, oxidation, long macerations, minimal so2 are all in play here. This is a must-stop for the brave and curious; it won’t be for everyone but we love it.
There are no frills here like at EDI SIMCIC’s polished tasting lounge. Here, it’s simply a small winemaker and his out-of-the-norm funky wines. Our favorites are a skin contact Pinot Grigio, an extra-long macerated Chardonnay and a 2015 merlot cab 80/20 blend.
Radikon
For those that want to step deeper into the orange wine craze of Slovenia, check out Radikon. Orange wine is not for everyone (white wine that’s made like a red wine), but this is one of the best producers for it in the region.
Radikon works a lot with Amphorae for fermentation, which gives the wine a really interesting texture /mouth feel in addition to tannins from the maceration. It’s hard to pick a favorite out of their lineup; we love it all.
For more producers that work with Amphorae, check out Beckham Estate in our Chehalem Mountains guide in Willamette Valley
Where to eat in the Friuli & Goriska Brda wine region
La Subida
Upscale Michelin-rated spot on the Italian side near Cormons. Excellent wine list and delicious course-style food and presentation. We love that they pay tribute to local winemakers by inserting biographies and caricatures into the menu.
Hisa Franko
For your Chef’s Table fans out there, this one was featured in Season 2. Tucked away in the western side of Slovenia near the Soca river, it’s out of the way but a memorable experience.
Da Michele
Excellent wine bar in the city of Udine. Great way to try local specialties ahead of visiting the vineyards; this is a tactic we discussed on our post about the best wine bars around the world.
