| So you have decided to go to Fruili-Venezia Giulia in | | | | because of its highly tannic wines. |
| northeastern Italy. Who could blame you for | | | | Major Fruili festivals include Carnevale in February and |
| abbreviating it as Fruili? You might be attracted by the | | | | a Mushroom Festival in the medieval, almost tourist |
| Alps to the north or the Adriatic Sea to the south. You | | | | untouched city of Udine, the largest city in the Friuli |
| might visit the port city of Trieste, once the port of the | | | | section of the region; the Prosciutto Festival in San |
| Austro-Hungarian Empire whose cession to Italy in | | | | Daniele del Friuli during the last week of August; and |
| 1954 marked the end of World War II. This is white | | | | the Palio of Saint Giusto in Trieste in September. |
| wine country, producing some of Italy's finest, but you | | | | Companies that offer wine tours of Fruili include |
| won't have trouble finding reds. Fruilians will tell you that | | | | Alabaster and Clark Wine Tours Worldwide, Discover |
| their ham, Prosciutto di San Daniele, is the finest in Italy | | | | Fruili, and Le Baccanti. Friuli wineries that offer visits |
| and many will agree. | | | | include Abbazia di Rosazzo in Rosazzo, Marco Felluga |
| Would you believe that the region has been producing | | | | in Gradisco d'Isonzo, and Venica & Venica in |
| Merlot for some two hundred years? Chardonnay is a | | | | Dolegna del Collio which is equipped to house |
| newcomer, basically going back to the 1960s. Some of | | | | vacationers. A few words of warning are in order. |
| the best Pinot Grigios come from Friuli. Try local grape | | | | Make sure that you check ahead of time for opening |
| varieties such as the white Picolit that makes some | | | | hours and whether English is spoken. Some places |
| fine dessert wines and the red Refosco and | | | | may charge admission; others may expect you to buy |
| Schioppettino grapes. If you are up to it, see if the | | | | some of their products. |
| Tazzelenghe lives up to its name, tongue-cutter | | | | |