Colli Orientali del Friuli Picolit

About the wine

Colli Orientali del Friuli Picolit is one of Italy’s most prestigious and rare dessert wines, recognized as a DOCG in 2006. The wine is crafted primarily from the Picolit grape, a variety historically prone to floral abortion, which results in naturally low yields and loose, sparse clusters. This scarcity, combined with the grape's ability to concentrate sugars through late harvesting or drying (appassimento), creates a wine of extraordinary complexity and elegance. Often compared to the great sweet wines of the world, it is characterized by a golden hue, an intense bouquet reminiscent of wildflower honey and dried fruits, and a sophisticated, harmonious palate that balances sweetness with depth. The production is centered in the hilly, eocene-marl soils of the Udine province, where the unique 'ponca' terrain and the protective influence of the Julian Prealps provide an ideal microclimate. It is a wine of aristocratic pedigree, historically celebrated in European royal courts and revived in the 20th century as a symbol of Friulian viticultural excellence.

Grape varieties

Production & aging

The production area spans nineteen communes in the eastern part of the province of Udine, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, bordering Slovenia. Key areas include Cividale del Friuli, Manzano, Buttrio, and the specific Cialla subzone in the municipality of Prepotto. The landscape is defined by rolling hills with eocene-origin soils known as 'ponca' (marl and sandstone), providing excellent drainage and exposure for the vines.