ITALIAN Wine + Culture Tour:
the region of friuli-venezia giulia
WITH MATTHIASSON WINES
APRIL 17 - 23, 2023
welcome to FRIULI-venezia giulia
Italy’s most northeastern region famous for white and orange wines
Steve and Jill Mattthiasson of Matthiasson Wines have teamed up with Leslie Rosa, Sommelier and Founder of La Dolce Vigna Wine + Culture Tour Co. on this special trip to Italy’s Friuli-Venezia Giulia, a region that has inspired some of their most unique wines including Ribolla Gialla and Refosco.
Friuli-Venezia Giulia, or simply Friuli, is a tiny region in northeastern Italy, located at the foot of the Alps, and bordering Veneto, Slovenia, Austria, and the Adriatic Sea. The region’s main viticultural areas, Collio and Colli Orientali del Friuli, are found close to the Friuli-Slovenian border. Thanks to the special climate, with both Mediterranean and Alpine influences, and the mineral rich soils, these areas are particularly ideal for white grape varieties: native varieties like Ribolla Gialla and Friulano reign supreme, but so do the Slovenian Vitovska and varieties such as Malvasia, Pinot Grigio, and Chardonnay.
Red wine lovers, have no fear: Friuli also makes fabulous red wines, such as Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso, Pignolo, Schioppettino, and Tazzelenghe to name a few. And, we can not forget the area’s famed orange wines! Macerated white wines (aka orange wines), some of which are refined in amphora, create well-structured, versatile wines with golden to rosy hues.
The Friuli Wine + Culture Tour introduces you to all of the wines through a carefully curated itinerary of family-run and historic wineries. We'll also enjoy the area’s traditional cuisine, visit a historic grappa producer, see a couple of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, hike through vineyards, and relax at our country estate.
Space is limited, please don’t delay in making your reservation request to join Steve, Jill and Leslie on this trip to Italy’s Friuli.
“La Dolce Vigna’s trips are fun, exciting and culturally educating, all at a relaxed pace. ”
“Our tour was a beautifully curated Italian experience from beginning to end.”
FRIULI WINE TOUR Highlights
Taste the acclaimed and diverse wines of Friuli’s Collio and Colli Orientali through visits to top wineries
Explore wineries in Slovenia on a day excursion
Visit a historic grappa producer
Explore two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Roman towns of Cividale del Friuli and Aquileia
Visit to an artisanal vinegar maker
Meals of a lifetime, including Hisa Franko (of Chef’s Table fame) across the border in Slovenia
Cuisine of FRIULI
Friulian cuisine is influenced by the two empires that controlled it for over a thousand years (the Venetian Republic and the Austro-Hungarian Empire) as well as its geography: from fresh Adriatic seafood and river trout to hearty Alpine stewed meat and sausage dishes. Horseradish, aka cren, is prevalent throughout the region, as are Alpine cheeses such as Montasio and Malga, and cured meats like San Daniele prosciutto and speck from Sauris. Polenta and gnocchi are more common than pasta, but stuffed or spätzle-like pastas can be found too. White asparagus, mushrooms, legumes, turnips, and onions are frequently featured in dishes. The parts that border Slovenia have more of a Germanic and Slavic twist. Beef, pork and venison appear quite a bit, as do bitter greens, cabbage (also in sauerkraut form), chestnuts and berries. Typical desserts are apple strudel and sweet spiced breads.
“Leslie knows all the special little nooks and crannies that you would never find on your own.”
Your CHARMING Accommodations in FRIULI
For the duration of the tour, we will stay in a charming and well-loved country hotel in Friuli near the Slovenian border. We will get to enjoy two meals at their acclaimed restaurant, one of the best in the region. (Please note: wifi is found only in communal areas.)
“Absolutely immersive - we love wine and all that’s behind it, and La Dolce Vigna’s tour was the perfect way to connect with winemakers, their vineyards and their wines. Loved the whole experience!”
ALL-INCLUSIVE $5500 / person based on double occupancy
YOUR CO-HOSTS OF THE FRIULI WINE TOUR
LESLIE ROSA
After a decade of working in the art world for eminent institutions and artists in New York and London, I moved to Italy, fell in love with the diversity of Italian wine and became a certified sommelier with the Associazione Italiana Sommelier. I created La Dolce Vigna in response to the large, impersonal tours I came across while living in Italy. As an art-curator-turned-sommelier, my passion is to organize immersive experiences and itineraries in which each day tells a story and offers an in-depth look at the history and culture of a particular region through the lens of wine. When not leading tours, you can find me doing pop-up wine tastings, writing for the Slow Wine Guide, or getting lost someplace beautiful with my watercolor set.
STEVE MATTHIASSION
Steve dreamt of farming his entire life. He became an obsessed gardener and cook while studying philosophy in college. In 1994, while back in grad school for horticulture after three years as a bike messenger/wannabe farmer, he found a job in vineyards and orchards working for a small sustainable agriculture consulting firm. In 1999 he co-authored the California manual on sustainable vineyard practices. In 2002 he started consulting on vineyard practices in Napa. He still loves the challenge of solving vineyard problems for others, but since 2003 the primary focus has been on the family farming and winemaking for Matthiasson Wines. Steve is a life-long student of the craft of viticulture.
JILL KLEIN MATTHIASSON
Jill always felt that the intersection of nature and culture was the most important thing. She studied botany at Penn, researched ancient farming techniques in Israel, and studied traditional methods for soil health in grad school at UC Davis. She pioneered “farmer to farmer” networking for sustainability in the early 90s while working for a family farming non-profit, and ran programs training farmers on direct sales, such as CSAs and farmers markets, before local food had the momentum that it has now. As the family grew, that passion translated into more local action, like teaching cooking from the garden classes in the local grade school, and serving on the Napa Farmer’s Market board. She runs the business side of the family farming and wine business of Matthiasson Wines.
La Dolce Vigna Difference
Small Groups. Tours are always limited to a maximum of 12 people to assure you an intimate experience.
Sommelier Guides. You will always have a certified sommelier guide to answer all of your wine-related questions on the road.
Family-Run and Historic Wineries. Tours are centered around small, eco-conscious, family-run wineries that make truly outstanding wine, and packed with cultural insights.
Foodie Central. Be prepared to eat. A lot. We've picked out amazing spots for you, from the small, loved-by-locals osteria to the Michelin-starred restaurant.
Insider Access. We have special relationships with locals, which open up more unique and authentic experiences for you!
No Cookie Cutter Tours. Depending on the season and local events, the tour will be organized to offer the best and most insider experience to each group.
All-Inclusive. Rest assured that your tour price includes all meals (except one), activities, hotels, transportation from the moment we meet until our fond farewell.
Down Time. For those of you who have been on other group tours, you know what we're talking about. Part of living la dolce vigna is taking the time to truly savor your experiences and surroundings. Time has been built in for you to do just that. Long live slow travel!
Helping others. Besides helping the local, artisanal economy through visiting small wine and food producers, eating at traditional trattorie and staying at intimate hotels, a donation on behalf of each individual that takes one of our tours will be made to 10,000 Gardens in Africa, a Slow Food initiative aimed at cultivating sustainable and healthy communities throughout Africa.
Questions about THE FRIULI Wine Tour
How many wineries will we visit on the FRIULI wine tour?
We typically visit 6-7 wineries on the tour. This gives clients a great cross-section of the appellations, wine styles, etc. We will also try wines from different wineries during meals.
I am not a wine expert; will I still enjoy this tour?
You do not need to be a wine expert to enjoy this tour, but a curiosity or love of tasting new wines comes in handy! A little more than half the trip will be focused on wine.
What IS the weather like in FRIULI in the SPRING?
Spring temperatures in the Friuli and Slovenia can range from the 50s to the upper 60s during the day and dropping as low as the 40s in the evening. The key is to bring clothes you can layer. Rain is a possibility in the spring.
What is the transportation for the FRIULI wine tour?
La Dolce Vigna works with local transportation companies that have luxury fleets. Tour vehicles are Mercedes Sprinters (or comparable) with extra space to spread out.
What is included in the FRIULI wine tour?
La Dolce Vigna believes in curating a complete experience for its clients. This means that winery visits, meals, activities, etc. are all hand-picked and included in your tour price to give you the best a region has to offer. With the exception of perhaps one meal, everything during the tour period is included. For further details, you can visit La Dolce Vigna’s Terms page for the Friuli Wine + Culture Tour.
looking for a Private wine tour of Italy?
Look no further! In addition to our intimate group tours, La Dolce Vigna curates private wine tours—with or without a guide—based on your dates, travel style and interests. We will open the doors to authentic experiences complete with exceptional food and wine, colorful personalities, warm hospitality, not-to-be-missed cultural sites and many, many photo-worthy moments. (Trust us.)
