I am just back from a press trip to the Collio Region of Friuli-Venezia-Giulia where I attended the Collio Evolution conference and met with many winemakers. I have visited this region many times before including just three years ago, thanks to the head of the Collio Consortium’s Press Office Federica Schir. Earlier this year when I was in Rome, I met with Federica and Lavinia Zamaro, Director of the Collio Consorzio, to taste 6 Collio wines.
At that tasting they invited me to the region for The Second Edition of Collio Evolution 2026, the official event of the Consorzio. From the 21 to the 23 of October, members of the press, both Italian and foreign, visited wineries in Collio. This was followed by a formal event which took place from the 24th to 26 th of October in Gorizia and Cormòns.
COLLIO
Collio is a crescent-shaped sub region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia in the province of Gorizia enclosed between the Judrio and Isonzo Rivers. It is right up against the Slovenian border. The area consists of a total of 7,000 hectares with a strong biodiversity, of which 1,300 hectares are vineyards. The vines are located in the municipalities of Gorizia, Capriva, Cormòns, Dolegna del Collio, Farra d’Isonzo, Mossa, San Floriano del Collio and Isonzo San Lorenzo.
The vineyards develop along a sequence of slopes, long ample surfaces with southern exposure, within a marvelous and uncontaminated environment, without factories or urban intervention, maintaining all its natural charm.
The great winemaking tradition, the landscape and cultural and tourist services are integrated perfectly in the Collio region. This stretch of land includes glimpses of great beauty: rivers, mountains, meadows, black locust woods, hills, vineyards, fruit orchards, and lagoons. This is a territory with an enormous cultural and historical heritage, varied in its contrasts and diverse influences that alternate castles, solitary churches and small towns.
The soil in Collio known as Ponca, is made of stratified marl and sandstone of Eocene origin. It crumbles in the hand revealing tiny fossils. The hills of Collio originate from the rising of the sea bottom. The soil makes wines with characteristic minerality and salinity. These are unique wines from a unique soil which are unmistakable for their taste and aroma. Collio is known for its complex and structured white wines.
Luca Raccaro and Lavinia Zamaro,
The Consorzio DI Tutela Vini Collio was founded in 1964 by the Count Sigismund Douglas Attems di Petzestein and in 1968 the region received the DOC. Today, Luca Raccaro is the President of the Consorzio Tutela Vini Collio, which is active in promoting, protecting and enhancing Collio wines. There are about 288 producers in the Collio and 175 are members of the Consorzio. They produce 7 million bottles of wine annually.
The Grapes of Collio
There are 17 grape varieties plus Collio Bianco and Collio Rosso. 87% are White grapes and 13% Black grapes. The indigenous grape varieties include Friuliano 15%, Ribolla Gialla 11% and Picolit 1%.
International varieties include Pinot Grigio 24%, Sauvignon 18%, Chardonnay 8%, Malvasia Istriana, 3% Pinot Bianco 3%, and smaller amounts of Traminer Aromatico, Riesling, and Muller Thurgau.
The Bottle
An important role is played by the Collio bottle, strongly desired by its producers ever since the year 2009. With its unique shape and the word Collio carved on its neck, and yellow capsule, it has become a new element of recognition and union. The making of the bottle respects the values of sustainability and attention for the environment that have always characterized the Collio region. Its 500 grams of weight against the traditional 550–600 grams make it a low impact product, with a reduced consumption of glass. The higher quality cork with its smaller cross section and shape that recalls the styles of yesterday completes the bottle’s unique design.
The gastronomic traditions of the Collio reflect the cultural and historical influences that the territory has experienced over the course of the centuries. This is a meeting place of recipes coming from the Latin and Slavic peoples, from Friulians, Austrians, Germans and. In the space of a few kilometers, the variety of the food assumes different results. The cuisine is rustic and elegant at the same time, as well as seasonal, expressing all its international character.
This year Collio Evolution spotlighted Pinot Grigio, exploring beyond the grape variety as an expression of its territory. Pinot Grigio was at center stage to reveal its most authentic side: a wine that speaks of its territory and never fails to surprise.
“Beyond the Vine From Soil to Glass the identity and essence of Pinot Grigio
Next time more on Pinot Grigio a white wine that can age
Daniele Cernilli, founder of DoctorWine, presented the press-only masterclass “The Evolution of Pinot Grigio in Collio.”
Cristina Mercuri MW, Italy’s first woman Master of Wine, will led the press-only masterclass “The Transparent Grape. Reading Collio through Pinot Grigio.”