From the supplier. To the northeast, the towering Alps; to the south, the placid Adriatic Sea. The Maccan family couldn’t have found a more charmed spot to cultivate Friuli’s native grapes.
Here along the banks of the Livenza river in the foothills of the Alps, the classic stones of Grave mix with limestone, giving a Burgundian finesse to Friulano and Refosco.
We came looking for a fresh take on Friuli’s bounty and found it at the sixteenth-century estate of Villa Varda. The estate has worked hard to preserve the spirit of its humble agricultural roots; indeed, a “warda” – pronounced varda – was a lookout in the hills for peasants tending to the stony land, a place of refuge from the elements.
Today with some 37 acres planted to Friuli’s native grapes, the Maccan family crafts character-rich single varietal wines that effortlessly reflect the breathtaking beauty of this mountain refuge.
The Maccan family practices sustainable farming, taking care to maintain a balance at all times between their vines and the surrounding environment. Vineyards follow the course of the Livenza River; here soils combine not only the typical alluvial gravel of the Grave appellation but also significant deposits of clay and limestone, unique in the region. The Alps to the northeast provide cooling winds in summer as does the Adriatic Sea to the south. Days are long and sunshine abundant, helping grapes reach perfect maturity.
Grapes are harvested by hand. Both red and white wines are fermented on indigenous yeasts in temperature-controlled, stainless steel tanks, and aged in tank.
Friuli Grave Refosco. This dark-skinned grape, native to the region, reaches its apogee in the foothills of the Alps; brimming with silky tannins and summer berries, this tank-made Refosco delivers endless pleasure.
