When people think of Italian wine, their minds often go straight to the bold reds—the iconic Barolo, Brunello, Chianti, and more. But Italian white wines deserve just as much admiration. I have favorite whites from all over Italy: Campania’s Fiano di Avellino, Tuscany’s Vernaccia di San Gimignano, Piedmont’s Arneis, and Marche’s Verdicchio.
After a recent wine tasting at Corkbuzz, I have yet another wine region to add to my list of great Italian whites: Collio DOC.
Here, you will find rich, full-bodied whites packed with ripe fruit flavors balanced by lively acidity and saline minerality. They’re fantastic on their own, but they really shine at the table—picture creamy seafood risotto, prosciutto di San Daniele, roasted chicken with herbs, or a platter of fresh, tangy goat cheeses.
I know what you’re thinking…
Where is Collio and What Makes The Wines so Special?
Collio is a small but mighty wine region in northeastern Italy, in Friuli Venezia Giulia, about an hour and a half drive northeast of Venice. The area is home to a treasure trove of indigenous and international grape varieties and produces some of Italy’s greatest white wines.
Situated between the Julian Alps and the Adriatic Sea, Collio has the perfect climate for high-quality viticulture. Warm sea breezes help ripen the grapes, while the Alps shield them from northern chills. The long, gentle growing season gives the grapes plenty of time to develop rich, complex aromas and flavors, and the big temperature swings from day to night add an extra boost of invigorating acidity.
This Article was originally published on The Wine Chef
