Region: Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy

Varietal: 100% Tocai Friulano

Tasting note:  As you can tell from it’s name, this is the standard-bearer varietal for the Friuli region of northeastern Italy. Nestled between Austria, Slovenia, the Adriatic Sea, and Veneto (Venice) this region produces some of the greatest white wines in all of Italy. This Friulano from Scarbolo is lean and crunchy with delicate notes of thyme, apricot, Meyer lemon, and ripe gooseberry with a bitter-almond finish. The time it spends sitting on the lees helps add some weight to the palate and the result is a superbly balanced wine!

Producer:  Valter Scarbolo gained a passion for viticulture and winemaking from his father Gino, who ran a farm in Lauzacco in the 1960s. Valter earned a degree in Agriculture and Oenology and founded Azienda Agricola Scarbolo in Friuli’s Grave region in 1982. In addition to vigneron, Valter bears the title of acclaimed restaurateur. He opened La Frasca Trattoria in 1994 and has since built a global reputation for reshaping the way foreign restaurateurs express Italian cuisine and hospitality. Naturally, Valter keeps food pairings in mind when producing his wines. 

Vineyard and Winemaking:  The vineyards are located in the heart of the Friulian plains on the right bank of the river Torre and just south of the Colli Orientali. Valter cultivates over 30 ha of vineyards grown in red clay soils mixed with alluvial deposits, minerals and chalk, which provide optimal drainage conditions. The climate is dry and ventilated with alternating temperate winds of cool breezes from the east and warm marine breezes from the Adriatic. This ideal thermal excursion allows the grapes to ripen slowly, resulting in more balanced aromas and richer flavors. Scarbolo believes “every vine is a friend” and implements sustainable practices in order to preserve the ecosystem.