It was the year 2017 when Collio Bianco Gran Selezione, made from the historic native varieties of Friulano (40%-70%), Ribolla Gialla (max 30%), and Malvasia (max 30%), seemed poised to make its mark. The approval of the new production regulations promised a clear path forward. These regulations not only revived the historical blend but also required that the wine undergo a minimum of 24 months of aging before its release to the market. Furthermore, they mandated presenting the wine in the distinctive ‘Collio Bottle,’ a concept Edi Keber had envisioned a few years earlier. This strategy was viewed as a winning idea to reposition Collio among the world’s great terroirs.
However, as often happens when trying to align the visions of multiple parties with differing opinions, the idea stalled, and the status quo prevailed. Nevertheless, this vision never left a handful of producers who saw—and continue to see—in this distinctive identity a remarkable opportunity for the revival of Collio as a whole.
In this regard, Cantina Produttori di Cormons, Terre del Faet, Edi Keber, and Muzic have passionately revived the project now known as “Collio Bianco from Native Grapes.” They have established a sort of programmatic manifesto.
Manifesto
- Use of the Collio Bottle
- The “Collio – Wine from Native Grapes” logo must be positioned at the top of the front label. The word “Collio” should have a minimum height of 1.5 cm
- Option to use back labels and the logo on them as well
- Label size of 7×11 cm (or similar dimensions) with a light background
- Use of the name “Collio Native Grapes” in promotions, guides, websites, and advertising materials to give the wines a common identity
- Avoidance of fanciful names
- Wine release at least 18 months after harvest
- Use of all three native varieties (Friulano, Malvasia, Ribolla Gialla) with a predominance of Friulano
- Wine without macerations or with short pre-fermentation macerations
- Option to use wooden barrels for ageing (preferably large wood) without allowing the wooden aroma to dominate the varietal notes of the grapes
- If using designations (e.g., reserve), it is preferable to indicate them only on the back label to maintain graphic continuity on the front label
We know, good ideas are contagious; it is no coincidence that Collio Bianco made from indigenous grapes has won over other hearts as well. Soon, producers like Maurizio Buzzinelli, Korsic, and Alessio Komianc, among others, will join in.
The essence of the project “Collio Bianco”
Andrea Drius (Terre del Faet) summarizes the reason for this, making the essence of the entire project easily understood:
“This ‘new-old’ idea of wine is fundamental for us in giving identity to the historic Bianco of our hills. We believe that putting the territory first is essential to restoring Collio to the prestige it once held. The hope is that it becomes a recognisable wine, that finally people talk about Collio and not about grape varieties. We will have succeeded when people say ‘let’s drink a Collio’ and no one cares about the varieties. Too often, consumers recognize great Friulian wines by their brand names and fanciful labels, each reflecting a distinct personal style. We aim to focus on a style that reflects our territory. Therefore we decided to honour the history of our region.
Andrea Drius continues: “The most important thing is to make a choice. Secondarily it’s to have a unified narrative to communicate around the world. Regarding the varieties we use, we draw from history. In the post-war period farmenrs chose Ribolla in the upper parts, Tocai on mid-hills, Malvasia in warmer and wetter areas. The choise was based on their suitability, without any commercial intent. The ideal location planted the variety that yielded the best results, independent of commercial pressures. We believe this is the strongest message we can communicate as wine, as history, and as territory. To achieve this, we have decided to revive the old labels that prominently displayed the word Collio at the top. It was a point of pride to write it in large letters, not a mere obligation.“
