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Friuli, Italy
Venica & Venica
This is a family owned estate with 28 ha of vines in the Dolegna district of Collio. Established in 1930 when Daniele Venica purchased Ronco del Cero. Today the winery is one of Friuli's most well known and respected estates. Giampaolo now has taken over the estate from his father Gianni and uncle Giorgio. The winery is known for highly textural and aromatic whites that use little to no wood in the production of their wines. Varieties of Sauvignon Blanc, Friulano, Pinot Grigio, Malvasia, Ribolla Gialla, Traminer and Chardonnay are planted to white wine production. Varieties of Refosco, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc are planted to red wine production.
The estate has a gorgeous Bed and Breakfast on site, which is an extension of the family's history of running a small guest house since 1940.
Farming Practice:
Farmed Organic
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Venica & Venica is farmed organic:
Pheromone Traps and other integrated systems are used for insect control.
The village of Dolegna del Collio and the surrounding area are heavily forested, there is a very high level of bio-diversity around the vineyards. The forests help develop an overall stronger, disease resistant environment that is better than a mono-culture environment that is common in other regions of the world.
Cover crops, grass and fava beans, are allowed to grow between rows and then mulched into the topsoil to maintain levels of nitrogen and organic material naturally. Soil analysis is done every year and manure is applied every few years to bolster organic compounds in the topsoil and maintain nutrients.
Copper Sulfite is used to combat mold and mildew in the cool and humid climate of the Collio. The Venica family uses a very particular machine that sprays on one side of the vine while on the other side is a collector that gathers any excess - the result is the amount of Copper Sulfite is reduced by 70% and only what is needed on the grapes remain and not collected in the soil or atmosphere.
Cold Macerations are done under a blanket of CO2 that is collected off the fermentation process and recycled. Reducing the amount of Sulfer needed during wine making. The winery has active solar panels to power the electricity needs.
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