I Clivi Winery

I Clivi Winery. A whole world in a glass!

Have you ever discovered in a glass of wine a hill breeze, the depths of the sea and the first warmth of the sun at dawn? It is a unique experience that you can have by uncorking a bottle of wine in one of the most beautiful corners of Friuli Venezia Giulia: the Collio. It is no coincidence that this area is considered by white wine lovers to be one of the best in the world. A visit to the organic wine cellar “I Clivi”, in Corno di Rosazzo, will make you understand in a simple and exciting way why, and it will make you fall in love with this land and its fruits.

Gentle hills covered with 60 to over 80 year old vines, mountains and sea waging a constant battle with the wind, a terroir unique in composition and microclimate: the “Friulian ponca”. These are the secret ingredients behind the unique, identifiable wines that cannot be reproduced elsewhere. Wines we enjoy today, but whose history begins millennia ago with the withdrawal of the Adriatic waters and the raising of the seabed. This is how the “ponca” was formed, a mix of clays and limestone that makes the soil rich in mineral salts and organic microelements.

The long roots of the old vines dig deep and feed on these elements. We find them in all their complex elegance in wines rich in aromas and minerals, capable of challenging time while maintaining great drinkability and freshness.

In their vineyards, Mario Zanusso and his father Ferdinando decided to cultivate the native grapes of Friuli: the Friulano, the Ribolla gialla, the Malvasia, the Verduzzo. Each cru offers unique emotions. In the cellar steel vats, used for fermenting and winemaking, preserve the aromatic richness of the grapes used in low alcohol wine and the delicacy of the wines.

The Ribolla gialla, in addition to the classic version, is also produced as a great value brut sparkling wine. Friulano, the main grape of the territory, is expressed in two different crus – San Pietro and San Lorenzo – which reflect the different nuances and vibrations of the hills. Malvasia is a concentrate of the fragrance of flowers and aromatic herbs. Verduzzo reveals the deep soul of the terroir.

Sun, wind, sea and time: each glass has an enthralling tale of ancient origin but one that also looks to the future.

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