IN BREVE
- Open letter expressing support for the Manferrari family after the Brazzano landslide. It emphasizes the historical value of the Ronco della Chiesa vineyard, at risk from bulldozers.
- Numerous signatories, including producers and restaurateurs, highlight the vineyard’s importance to Collio’s identity.
- The letter does not minimize the tragedy’s pain but invites consideration of the future with an ethical and cultural approach.
- It calls for dialogue between institutions and the community to find solutions that protect the territory and its memory.
- Borgo del Tiglio’s Ronco della Chiesa vineyard represents a collective heritage, an expression of agricultural culture and the Manferrari family’s vision.
A significant portion of the Collio wine community has signed an open letter addressed to the Manferrari family of Borgo del Tiglio, following the landslide that struck Brazzano between Sunday, November 16, and Monday, November 17, 2025. The document expresses solidarity with those affected by the disaster and draws attention to the historical and cultural value of the Ronco della Chiesa vineyard, considered by the signatories an identity-defining element of the territory, with its precious Friulano vines (formerly Tocai).
Among the first signatories are Josko Sirk (Trattoria Il Cacciatore, Cormòns) and Thomas Peres (Osteria La Preda, Cormòns). The initiative has since been joined by numerous producers, restaurateurs, sommeliers, agronomists, industry associations, and representatives of the region’s gastronomic culture.
BRAZZANO LANDSLIDE AND SOLIDARITY WITH THE AFFECTED COMMUNITY
The letter opens with a message of solidarity for those affected by the landslide and the families of the victims. “The Brazzano landslide struck hard. It took away dreams, homes, security. It shattered lives—two people who perhaps had chosen to live here precisely for what this territory represents: authenticity, hard work, beauty built slowly, day by day.”
The text clarifies that the intent is not to diminish the gravity of what happened, but to reflect on the territory’s future. “This letter in no way seeks to minimize the pain, nor to shift attention from the absolute necessity of securing the safety of people and the territory.”
RONCO DELLA CHIESA AND BORGO DEL TIGLIO IN COLLIO’S HISTORY
At the heart of the document is the Ronco della Chiesa vineyard, one of the most renowned crus of the Borgo del Tiglio estate. The signatories emphasize the site’s historical and symbolic value. “The Ronco della Chiesa vineyard is not simply a plot of land: it is a symbolic place, a living archive of agricultural culture, vision, and courage.”
According to the text, the Manferrari family’s work has helped build Collio’s contemporary identity and strengthen its international reputation. “Ronco della Chiesa represents a historical and identity-defining heritage of Collio. It is testimony to a vision that looked beyond the present, anticipating the future without ever betraying the territory.”
TERRITORIAL SAFETY AND AGRICULTURAL MEMORY
A central passage concerns the relationship between safety interventions and the protection of the vineyard landscape. “We believe that reconstruction must not be merely technical, but also ethical and cultural. Securing safety cannot mean erasing memory. Protecting cannot mean impoverishing a place’s soul.”
For the signatories, the vineyard represents an asset that transcends business interests. “Saving and preserving this vineyard does not mean defending a private interest, but protecting a collective good, a legacy that tells who we were and how we became what we are.”
A STATEMENT FROM THE COLLIO COMMUNITY
The document concludes with an invitation to dialogue among institutions, the community, and territorial stakeholders. “This letter—the message reads—is a gesture of support, but also an invitation: to dialogue, to find shared solutions, to demonstrate that Collio is not just a geographical place, but a community capable of recognizing the profound value of its roots.”
Signatories include, among others, Gravner, Radikon, Venica & Venica, Paraschos, Ronco del Gnemiz, as well as representatives from AIS Friuli Venezia Giulia, Assoenologi FVG, Consorzio Collio, restaurateurs, and territorial operators.
COLLIO: THE FULL TEXT OF THE LETTER TO THE MANFERRARI FAMILY
Open letter to the Manferrari family – Borgo del Tiglio
12.03.2026
Dear Manferrari family,
this letter stems from a profound sense of respect, solidarity, and responsibility toward a story that belongs not only to one family or one vineyard, but to an entire territory. The Ronco della Chiesa vineyard is not simply a plot of land: it is a symbolic place, a living archive of agricultural culture, vision, and courage. It is a page written with time, with hands, with difficult and often countercurrent choices that have made that authentic vision of Collio what it is today.
The Brazzano landslide struck hard. It took away dreams, homes, security. It shattered lives—two people who perhaps had chosen to live here precisely for what this territory represents: authenticity, hard work, beauty built slowly, day by day. To them, to the families, to the wounded community, goes our first and most sincere thought. This letter in no way seeks to minimize the pain, nor to shift attention from the absolute necessity of securing the safety of people and the territory.
Precisely for this reason, however, we believe that reconstruction must not be merely technical, but also ethical and cultural. Securing safety cannot mean erasing memory. Protecting cannot mean impoverishing a place’s soul.
Ronco della Chiesa represents a historical and identity-defining heritage of Collio. It is testimony to a vision that looked beyond the present, anticipating the future without ever betraying the territory. The Manferrari family’s story is one of quiet avant-garde, of rigor, of absolute respect for the land and for time. A story that has brought international prestige to these hills, without ever distorting them.
In the most difficult moments it is essential to work together, to be a community, to be family. Because it is precisely when projects become both grand and fragile that a territory shows who it truly is. Saving and preserving this vineyard does not mean defending a private interest, but protecting a collective good, a legacy that tells who we were and how we became what we are.
One day, the grandchildren of grandchildren will ask what choices we made when everything seemed easier to raze to the ground than to understand. We will tell them whether we had the courage to unite safety and memory, future and respect, technique and vision. We will tell them whether we lived up to the people who, like you, believed in these hills when believing meant sacrifice, renunciation, and solitude.
This letter is a gesture of support, but also an invitation: to dialogue, to find shared solutions, to demonstrate that Collio is not just a geographical place, but a community capable of recognizing the profound value of its roots.
With sincere esteem, respect, and solidarity.
THE SIGNATORIES
Josko Sirk, Trattoria Il Cacciatore Cormòns
Thomas Peres, Osteria La Preda Cormòns
Also signing:
Board of Directors Consorzio Collio
Enoteca Momo Rosso, Udine
Marialuisa Cucut, Secretary Associazione Judrio
Board of Directors Assoenologi FVG
Enoteca Nanut, Trieste
Matteo Lovo, President Assoenologi FVG
Associazione Italiana Sommelier FVG
Enzo Cristancig, Associazione Judrio
Mauro Bon, Associazione Judrio
Associazione Amîs da Mont Quarine, Cormòns
Collavini Family, Eugenio Collavini V., Corno di Rosazzo
Michela Scarello, Ristorante Agli Amici, Godia
Alessio Gruarin, Trattoria da Nando, Mortegliano
Scarpa Family, Subida di Monte, Cormòns
Michele Giordani, Enoteca Da Michele, Udine
Alessandro Dal Zovo, Director Cantina Produttori di Cormòns
Filippo Felluga, Livio Felluga, Brazzano
Nero di Seppia, Trieste
Antonia Klugman, L’Argine, Vencò
Fondazione Villa Russiz, Capriva
Nicholas Chiarcossi, Sommelier Corte delle Fucine, Buttrio
Alimentari Tomadin, Cormòns
Francesco Dilena, Osteria Vecchie Province, Mossa
Osteria Caramella, Cormòns
Andrea Ivan Uanetto, Trattoria da Nando, Mortegliano
Francesco Vosca, Az. Vosca, Brazzano
Paolo Visintin, Vice President Associazione Judrio
Andrea Pittana, Agronomist
Gian Carlo Ridolfo, Ridolfo Alimentari, Lignano
Paraschos, San Floriano del Collio
Antico Caffè San Marco, Trieste
Gianfranco Gallo, Vie di Romàns, Mariano
Petes Cibo e Vino in Cittavecchia, Trieste
Az. Jacuss, Montina
Gianluca Castellano, Sommelier Locanda alle Vigne, Cormòns
Raccaro, Cormòns
Az. Mariangela, Moraro
Gianluca Riz, Casa Riz, Giassico
Radikon, Oslavia
Az. Pascolo, Ruttars
Giovanni Battista Panzera, Cormòns
Renato Paglia, President AIS FVG
Az. Podversic Damijan, Gorizia
Giovanni Gregorat, Ronco del Gnemiz, San Giovanni al Natisone
Ristorante Eden, Sistiana
Az. Tercic Matijaz, San Floriano del Collio
Giulia Uanetto, Trattoria da Nando, Mortegliano
Ristorante Giardinetto, Cormòns
Bu Wine Art, Trieste
Gradnik Gradimiro Eredi, Cormòns
Ristorante Mondschein, Sappada
Carlo Petrussi, Agronomist
Gravner, Oslavia
Ronco Blanchis, Mossa
Castello di Spessa, Capriva
Hans Kitzmüller, University Professor, Brazzano
Ronco dei Tassi, Cormòns
Caterina “Catine” Tomasulo, Actress and writer
Harry’s Piccolo, Trieste
Sandro Uanetto, Trattoria da Nando, Mortegliano
Cemût – Piccola Osteria Furlana, Trieste
Hosteria Taberna, Cormòns
Serena Palazzolo, Ronco del Gnemiz, San Giovanni al Natisone
Chimera di Bacco, Trieste
Jacopo Gregorat, Ronco del Gnemiz, San Giovanni al Natisone
Silvio Jermann, Ruttars
Christian Patat, Ronco del Gnemiz, San Giovanni al Natisone
Keber Kristian, Az. Keber Edi, Cormòns
Simone Paroni, Ovest, Pordenone
Christine Casapicola, writer
Komjanc Alessio e Figli, San Floriano del Collio
Stefano Uanetto, Trattoria da Nando, Mortegliano
Colmello di Grotta, Grotta
Leonardo Uanetto, Trattoria da Nando, Mortegliano
Tatiana Petris, Bacaro Foresto, Cormòns
Dom Bistro, Sgonico
Livon, San Giovanni al Natisone
Terre del Faet, Cormòns
Edoardo Mauri, Associazione Judrio
Luca Belluzzo, Assoenologi – Az. Jermann, Ruttars
Thomas Kitzmüller, Az. Kitzmüller, Brazzano
Elena Gasparin, President Associazione Judrio
Marco Boccotti, Locanda Orologio, Brazzano
Trattoria La Mariuta, Ronchi dei Legionari
Elisa De Belli, Associazione Judrio
Marco De Falco, Associazione Judrio
Venica & Venica, Dolegna del Collio
Emanuele Scarello, Ristorante Agli Amici, Godia
Marco Pecorari, Az. San Lurins, San Lorenzo Isontino
Vladimiro Tulisso, Delegate AIS FVG
Enos Costantini, Agronomist
Marco Uanetto, Trattoria da Nando, Mortegliano
Zeno Gregorat, Ronco del Gnemiz, San Giovanni al Natisone
