Wines
Marco Felluga established himself in Gradisca di Isonzo. He has regularly been a skilled purchaser of grapes and wine from trusted hillside growers. But acquisition of vineyard land has certainly not been neglected and the total acreage is now an impressive 100 ha.
He has also purchased the historic Russiz Superiore estate in Capriva del Friuli and, more recently, the Castello di Buttrio (now run by his daughter) in the township of the same name, this time in the Colli Orientali del Friuli appellation. Another daughter has her own denomination in San Floriano del Collio. But the center of the estate remains Gradisca d’Isonzo where Roberto Felluga, Marco Felluga’s son, now runs the show.
Picking out the standout wines in so large a line is anything but simple, but the white blends Molamatta and Col Disôre are obvious choices, as are the Pinot Grigio Mongris Riserva, the Sauvignon, fresh, fragrant, and elegant in the best Friuli style, and the Friulano, a name which reminds us that Sauvignon Vert, once known locally as Tocai, is a fine example of a French grape which performs better in Italy than in its home territory.
But red wine, as demonstrated by the Merlot Varneri and, even more so, by the Carantan and by Rosso Riserva degli Orzoni, can well recall Bordeaux in an Italian context.