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Bortoluzzi
Varietal: Chardonnay
Of all the white wine grape varietals, surely the one which has spread the furthest and is most widely appreciated is the Chardonnay. This green skinned grape is now grown all over the Old and New Worlds, from New Zealand to the Americas, from England to Chile, and is one of the first varietals people think of when considering white wine grapes. Perhaps this is because of its huge popularity which reached a peak in the 1990s, thanks to new technologies combining with traditional methods to bring the very best features out of the Chardonnay grape, and allow its unique qualities to shine through. Most fine Chardonnay wines use a process known as malolactic fermentation, wherein the malic acids in the grape juice are converted to lactic acids, allowing a creamier, buttery nature to come forward in the wine. No grape varietal is better suited to this process than Chardonnay, which manages to balance these silky, creamy notes with fresh white fruit flavors beautifully.
Region: Friuli-Venezia Giulia
The beautiful, mountainous region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia in northern Italy is home to many of the countries finest and most interesting wines. Because of the region's close proximity to the Austrian and Slovenian borders, there is a fascinating Germanic influence on the wine culture of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, where you are as likely to find delicious, crisp white Riesling and Pinot Bianco wines alongside more classic Italian varietals, such as Pinot Grigio. The white wines of the region are renowned for their alpine character, and are prized for their dryness, and their ability to express their fantastic terroir. Friuli-Venezia Giulia's location, between the Alps and the Adriatic, provides plenty of fresh and airy character to the wines which are produced here, and the region is becoming increasingly popular with those seeking something a little different from their Italian white wines.
Country: Italy
There are few countries in the world with a viticultural history as long or as illustrious as that claimed by Italy. Grapes were first being grown and cultivated on Italian soil several thousand years ago by the Greeks and the Pheonicians, who named Italy 'Oenotria' – the land of wines – so impressed were they with the climate and the suitability of the soil for wine production. Of course, it was the rise of the Roman Empire which had the most lasting influence on wine production in Italy, and their influence can still be felt today, as much of the riches of the empire came about through their enthusiasm for producing wines and exporting it to neighbouring countries. Since those times, a vast amount of Italian land has remained primarily for vine cultivation, and thousands of wineries can be found throughout the entire length and breadth of this beautiful country, drenched in Mediterranean sunshine and benefiting from the excellent fertile soils found there. Italy remains very much a 'land of wines', and one could not imagine this country, its landscape and culture, without it.