Friulano Revolution at Collio Evolution 2025

collio evolution 2025 best friulano

Best Friulano 2024 Collio Doc.

Fresh, savory, harmonious. Subtle and easy-drinking, fruit driven as the English would say. Or full and structured. The snapshot of the Friulano wines presented at Collio Evolution 2025, the first edition of the Consorzio Collio format that took place last weekend between Gorizia and Cormons, is not entirely uniform but tells the story of the great variability of the area’s signature grape, the former “Tocai.” The earthquake caused by the (entirely justified) European ruling that established the ban on using the name “Tocai”, following legal action by Hungary claiming confusion with the wine region of “Tokaji”, is now a distant memory for most producers.

After years of aftershocks, the Consorzio and wineries—led by the young and dynamic duo of president Luca Raccaro and director Lavinia Zamaro—seem to have found the right formula to promote the grape and its wines. With the wind at their backs from an average quality that has grown exponentially, as evident among the samples presented. What more to do now? Stop, once and for all, together, dwelling on that very European ruling.

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With all due respect (also) to a certain part of the invited press on the territory who, in an embarrassing (and miserably failed) attempt at captatio benevolentiae, dredges up the issue by asking (get this) whether it might be worth filing an appeal in Europe against Hungary. Sheer madness, as promptly emphasized by the regional Agriculture Minister of Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, Stefano Zannier, during the opening conference of Collio Evolution at the Prefecture of Gorizia.

As the event’s very name suggests, in the spirit of Evolution, there’s no longer any need (or time) to talk about the past. Except to mention one aspect worth keeping in high regard when discussing Friulano, uncommon among white wines: its ability to “age” divinely. This was demonstrated by the exceptional performance of the Collio Doc Friulano 2001 from Carlo di Pradis, the winery of former Consorzio Collio president David Buzzinelli and his brother Boris Buzzinelli. A true “Best in show” at Collio Evolution 2025, well surrounded by other excellent “older vintages.” Here then are the best Friulano at Collio Evolution 2025, in strict alphabetical order.