Venice Day Trip, Friuli Wines at Colutta
The Day We Found Friuli: Wine, Warmth, and Wonder
An Inclusive Day Trip from Venice to Italy’s White Wine Heartland
To me, the best Italian white wines come from Friuli, I love Ribolla Gialla and Friulano. With a recent trip to Venice, I knew I wanted to find a way to go to Friuli and visit the “mothership” of Italian white wines. Because two of our group of four are senior and have some mobility issues, I also wanted to find an accessible day trip for our tour. Success!!! We had an absolutely enchanting visit at Colutta Winery - with warm hospitality and incredible wines.
Planning the Trip: Accessibility Meets Adventure
While operators like Viator have a lot of different food and wine options, including several tours to Prosecco, I couldn’t find the Friuli experience I was seeking. I researched some train options but felt that it might make for a long day for the seniors. Mrs. L. walks well with the assistance of a cane but standing for long periods or sitting without good back support is a problem. When I discovered that Friuli is less than two hours driving from Venice, I looked into renting a car. It was easy and affordable! Because there are several locations - the airport, mainland Venice, Piazzale Venezia - you will want to make sure you carefully select the car rental location that is most convenient for you.
Finding the Right Vineyard
After reserving a car rental, I searched for vineyards in Friuli. I reached out to a few online but didn’t hear back. I was getting a little nervous and frustrated, and then remembered that I had a book, The Wine Table by Vickie Reh. I checked the book, and Colutta Winery was featured! I reached out to Colutta via email and received a quick and gracious response. We arranged for the time and type of wine tasting and our date and we were ready to go.
The Drive: From Venice to the Hills of Friuli
The day of our drive was sunny with puffy white clouds. You start the drive on highways near Venice, but soon you are gently climbing towards the hills of Colli Orientali del Friuli. As you enter the more agricultural area of Friuli, the air somehow becomes softer, making the landscape almost dreamy. We arrived at Colutta Vineyards after about an hour and a half driving.
The Experience: Wine, History, and Heart
We were immediately welcomed by Giorgio Colutta, the 3rd generation in his family at Colutta. There was a Danish family staying as a guest at the agriturismo (an Italian form of bed and breakfast located on a farm) who asked to join the tasting, which was a lovely added bonus. We toured the property (easily navigated with a cane) and were able to see the equipment and process that goes into making Colutta wines a designated “bio” or sustainable producer, meaning eco-friendly or green.
After the tour, we went to the tasting room, situated in a beautiful historic building with tile floors and wood-beamed ceilings. We arranged for a wine tasting paired with local foods, including cured meats, cheeses, and bread. We started with a sparkling Ribolla Gialla, which was new to me and so fantastic. Their whites, including Ribolla Gialla and Friulano, are spectacular. Their reds are also unique and delicious. We were also introduced to Schioppettino, which is sometimes called the Black Ribolla Gialla. It is a light red wine with spicy notes that go well with lots of meat and cheese dishes. Their indigenous reds, Pignolo and Resfosco dal Peduncolo Rosso, are unique and very enjoyable. Because Europe has so many smaller producers, you won’t often find these incredible wines in any stores in the United States. But they are truly outstanding. Colutta definitely proves that!
Tips and Reflections
I wish I had known about the agriturismo when we were planning our trip! The property has a pool and, in addition to be located in a vineyard, is close to a town with shopping and restaurants, and not a far drive to the Adriatic beaches. In fact, you may be able to arrange a shuttle (for a fee) from the airport, cruise terminals, or Venice with Colutta.
Because I was driving, I limited myself to just sips in the tasting, thankfully we were able to purchase the wines we liked and enjoy them back at the hotel in Venice. We also went to the nearby Abbey of Rosazzo, which dates back to the 10th century, with a beautiful rose garden. Touring that after the winery also gave me time to absorb any of the wine I had imbibed. But arranging a shuttle with Colutta might make an even better day.
One of my biggest mistakes? We didn’t think about carting boxes of wine from the car rental in Piazzale Venezia and onto the vaporetto back to the hotel. I would definitely think about bringing a rolling cart to transport wine! Mrs. L said that our day at Colutta was the highlight of our entire 8-day trip in Italy. If you are interested in help booking an experience like this, feel free to contact me or request a consultation.
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