guest post by Julia Segal
Hello again, Julia here. I’ll be your guest blogger once again today. I am interning at Batali & Bastianich Hospitality Group, and am certainly a wine enthusiast (and avid drinker.) If you want more Julia in your life, please check out my blog here.
MAKING WINE IN FRIULI
As we know, wines are heavily influenced by their terroir, and Friuli is no exception. Every region in Italy imparts distinct characteristics to their wines as a result of their indigenous grapes, climate, environment, soil, location and more. So let’s talk about what gives our Bastianich wines, from the Colli Orientali del Friuli, that special Friulian flair.
VITICULTURAL DARWINISM
As a general rule, low yield means good quality grapes. Friulian vines are some of the lowest yielding vines per hectare in all of Italy. This is a measurement of quality grapes, since only the best are able to survive. The vines that do survive are able to pick up many important micronutrients thanks to the type of rock beneath the ground. This allows for deep root penetration, high mineral absorption and consistent quality.
WARM DAYS, COLD COLD NIGHTS
The growing season in Colli Orientiali is characterized by warm days and chilly nights. Since the grapes are allowed to ‘rest’ during the nighttime, this helps balance the acidity and sweetness in the wine. Being positioned between the mountains and the sea also lends significant air movement and temperature fluctuation to the vines, helping to curb premature ripening. Our vines located closer to the Adriatic favor full bodied reds and powerful whites, whereas those closer to the Alps lend to bright and aromatic wines.
SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE
The growing season is long, meaning that the grapes have a long time to ripen to proper maturity. The temperate climate, with its cooler summers and warmer winters, draws out the time for the grapes to ripen. The light soil color also helps, because it does not heat up quickly from the sun, forcing the vines to grow and mature at a slower pace.
GETTING DIRTY
The soils in the area tend to be mix of calcereous clay and sandstone, and have a high concentration of minerals, clay and sometimes limestone. This imparts a characteristic mineral finish to many of our whites. The mix of clay and flat stone on the hillside retains water during dry periods, ensuring that the vines Furthermore, calcereous clay is specifically high in Calcium, which is crucial for healthy vines.
Now, when you’re sipping one of our wines, you know what you’re tasting is the soil, the air and the seasons of Friuli.
THE BUZZ at Bastianich Winery 