Venica & Venica is a family-run winery that has been operating for 90 years. The estate stretches for 40 hectares in Collio Goriziano, an area of excellence in the wine scene of our country, that has been recognised with the DOC in 1968.
Collio Goriziano is located between the Judrio stream to the west and the Isonzo river to the east. The region is located on hills at different altitudes, with different aspects and microclimates, and it is an area influenced by the benefits of the Adriatic Sea. The climate is mild and extremely favourable for the vineyard that extends for about 1,300 hectares. The soil is rich in minerals and it is made of stratified marl and sandstone, of the Eocene origin, that were ancient seabeds emerged over the ages. It isone of the most suited areas of the country for the cultivation of white grapes, that produce wines characterized by good aroma and olfactory complexity, structure, acidity and a mineral scent that makes them unique.
Venica & Venica winery is located in the northernmost area of the Collio, on the border with Slovenia, about 500 m above sea level. Here the climate is cooler than in other areas of the region and the vineyards are on steep slopes at the base of the Julian Prealps and the Karst. Of all the winery’s production I will tell you about the Ronco delle Cime, made with Tocai Friulano grapes and awarded this year with the 3 bicchieri Gambero Rosso award.
Ronco delle Cime is the toponym of the vineyard where the Friulano grapes come from. The 5 hectares of this cru are located in Cime, a special plot higher altitude, suited to the cultivation of Friuliano Tocai grapes. The vine is of French origin from the Gironde region where it is called Sauvignonasse. Like the Sauvignon grape variety it shares a certain aromaticity, linking the two vines to the same family and being genetically related. In Italy, especially in this point of the Collio it has found its terrain of choice.
The grapes of the wine tasted were harvested by hand and destemmed between 9th and 27th September 2021. Once transported to the cellar, they were subjected to maceration for 18-24 hours at a temperature of 11-12 ° C in special containers. An innovative oxygen protection system is used by recycling its own carbon dioxide in order to reduce the amount of antioxidants. After fermentation, the wine is aged on the lees for 6 months, partly in large wooden barrels of 20-27 hectoliters and partly in stainless steel vats. Then wine was blended and bottled at the full moons between March and June 2022.
Now let’s move on to wine tasting.
Collio Friulano Ronco delle Cime 2021
The wine is crystal clear and full straw yellow in color, with golden glows. On the nose it has intense aromas of Williams pear, yellow peach, delicate notes of herbs, then oregano and wildflowers. The aromas close on citrus notes with a hint of almond on the finish. In the mouth the wine is dynamic, with great structure, it is warm with 14% abv but balanced with evident flavour and freshness sensations. It is full-bodied and harmonious wine, that envelops with its pleasantness of drinking and long lasting with a typical almond aftertaste.
This is a very versatile wine, to be paired with San Daniele ham and latteria cheese of different maturation, but also with risotto with porcini mushrooms and sea first courses.