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The Collio Goriziano is famous for its excellent wines, certainly among the best Italian white wines produced both from indigenous and international vine varieties. Thanks to its unique microclimate and to the specific soil (called ponca or ponka), made of layers of marl and sandstone and rich in mineral salts and micro-elements, this area is particularly suited to the cultivation of the vine.  And walking through the green rolling hills covered in beautiful vineyards is a pure pleasure! Vigne Alte trail The " Sentiero delle Vigne Alte " is a splendid panoramic trail near Cormons winding for 3 km through shady woodlands, olive groves and the vineyards of some of the most interesting wine producers of the Collio Goriziano; a real naturalistic jewel, an easy walk that can be done on foot, by mountain bike or even on horseback. View from the Vigne Alte Trail Vineyards Collio Goriziano The best time to walk the trail is spring or autumn, when the chromatic shades of nature giv...

The surroundings of Gorizia , in Friuli Venezia Giulia , offer an enchanting and relaxing landscape of rolling hills dotted with wineries and cellars where the best Italian white wines in the world and full-bodied reds are produced: it is the Collio , which has its main center in Cormons .  Vineyards in the Collio Goriziano This area, geographically delimited by the Isonzo river and its tributary Iudrio, covers 150 square km divided between the province of Gorizia and Slovenia. Here, the location between mountains and sea creates a unique microclimate, in terms of ventilation and temperature range, that works perfectly with the characteristic terrain of the Collio (called ponca ), made up of stratified marl and sandstone, ideal for growing grapes.  This is white wine land where the local  Ribolla Gialla , Malvasia Istriana ,  Friulano  and Picolit grow side by side with the international Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc to create whites that are amon...

Friuli Venezia Giulia is a region that brings together very different populations and cultures that go far beyond the traditional dichotomy between Trieste and Udine .  This border region, still far from the flows of mass tourism offers nonetheless an infinite number of good reasons to be visited. From cities of art to nature, from typical gastronomic products to wine tourism, Friuli Venezia Giulia is the ideal place to practice slow and respectful tourism. Here is our suggested  14-days itinerary that should give you an idea of what to visit and how to organize your time in this beautiful region.  TRIESTE AND THE KARST - 3 DAYS Trieste Trieste , forced into a thin strip of land between the Adriatic Sea and the Karst, has the typicality of a border town with a Habsburg atmosphere that makes it seem suspended in time. The city offers many historical landmarks, starting with the iconic Piazza Unità d'Italia with its famous cafés and the Molo Audace and continuing with t...

Friuli-Venezia-Giulia , in the North-Eastern corner of Italy , is a border region with a turbulent past. Its cultural atmosphere has been strongly influenced by the various historical dominations that have finally created a melting pot of culture and traditions making it a very peculiar place. Thanks to its geo-morphological diversity, the region offers endless opportunities to visitors: a beautiful coastline, imposing mountains, a relaxing hilly countryside covered in vineyards and plenty of cities and small towns with an impressive historical heritage.  History buffs, foodies and wine lovers or those that like outdoor activities, will find plenty of opportunities to fulfill their interests. Nonetheless, for those that like less touristy destinations, this is a region that is still relatively out of the radar of the mass tourists. Here is our top 5 of places to visit in Friuli-Venezia-Giulia :     1. TRIESTE Home of the famous writers Svevo and Saba , Trieste is the e...

Cividale del Friuli, Natisone river Cividale del Friuli, located in the territory of the Natisone valleys, close to the Slovenian border, is one of the most interesting and magical villages to visit in Friuli-Venezia-Giulia . Founded in the I century BC by Julius Caesar, it later became the first capital of the Lombard duchy in Italy and then Civitas Austriae with the Franks. Eventually, it saw the hegemony of the Patriarchate and then the Venetian dominion. This historical and cultural mix makes it a real jewel and walking along its streets is like taking a journey through time. Its most famous attraction is without any doubt, the Longobard temple , a World Heritage Site since 2011. It is a unique structure, a stone chapel built in the 1700s and used until 1893 as an oratory of the Monastery of Santa Maria in Valle.  The first glance is breathtaking: a tall and narrow chapel, topped by a stone arch decorated with openwork tracery and the large statues of saints and martyrs...

When talking about wines from Friuli Venezia Giulia , most people immediately think of the famous whites of Collio and Colli Orientali, the precious and rare passito Picolit and Ramandolo, the Refosco and the other wines from Grave, but they often tend to forget that piece of land that stretches towards Trieste , along the Adriatic coast; the Karst .  Indeed, despite being so rocky and arid, the Karst is actually a DOC area. International vines such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Semillon, Cabernet and Merlot grow successfully among its hills. But it's the native vines such as Vitovska, Malvasia, Terrano that stand out for their peculiarity. And that's what you should drink when visiting Trieste and tasting the local cuisine . Photo by Jordon Kaplan on Unsplash The most typical wine of the area of Trieste is the Terrano, also named 'Karst blood'. The reason for that is the high concentration of Iron in the soil that gives the wine, made from Refosco d'Istria grapes, a d...