Isonzo del Friuli

Isonzo del Friuli or Friuli Isonzo, small doc in the extreme north east of Italy in the friuli region overlapping with the collio zone. The plain to the south of the Collio hills formed by the Isonzo River on its way to the Adriatic is, from a geological point of view, split in two. The left bank of the Isonzo River, the part closest to the sea, is like grave del friuli a mixture of gravel and soil formed by fluvial and glacial deposits. The subzone on the right bank, inland towards colli orientali, is a less fertile red gravel, and produces Isonzo’s finest wines. This distinction has been recognized in the DOC regulations since 2003, with wines from the right bank being entitled to put Rive Alte on the label, while those from the left bank can use the subzone Rive di Giare. Wines labelled with the Rive Alte subzone must be made from Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Friulano, and/or Merlot. Rive di Giare must be made from Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Malvasia Istriana, Refosco dal Penduncolo Rosso, and/or Merlot.