2024 Via Alpina Ribolla Gialla Collio DOC (750ml)

Via Alpina is an exciting, highly focused project born from the legendary Giampaolo Venica of the world-renowned Venica & Venica estate. Created to champion the pure, unadulterated typicity of Friuli’s indigenous varieties, Via Alpina bridges the gap between elite, benchmark craftsmanship and immediate, everyday accessibility.

The fruit is sourced entirely from the prized, sun-soaked hills of the Collio DOC in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, right along the Slovenian border. Here, the vines are rooted in ponca—an ancient, highly unique soil composed of alternating layers of marl and sandstone. This marl infuses the native Ribolla Gialla grape with its signature structural backbone and intense, flinty minerality.

Farmed sustainably and vinified with minimal intervention, the grapes undergo a gentle pressing and a cool fermentation entirely in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. Aged on its fine yeast lees with zero oak influence, the 2024 vintage captures the grape's beautiful dual nature: delivering an inviting, sunny stone-fruit profile anchored by a fiercely crisp, structural, and mouthwatering alpine framework.

Tasting Profile

• Aroma: Bright, pristine, and highly architectural. The wine pours a gorgeous, shimmering straw-yellow color with golden highlights. The nose opens with an upscale, expressive bouquet of yellow apples, fresh Bosc pears, and white peach skin, beautifully layered with elegant top notes of wildflowers, acacia honey, tangerine zest, and a distinct wash of wet slate.

• Palate: Medium-bodied, vibrant, and surprisingly texturized. On the first sip, it hits the tongue with a concentrated, succulent stream of green plum, crisp orchard fruits, and lemon curd. While Ribolla Gialla is naturally high in acid, the ponca soils and thoughtful lees aging lend a subtle, waxy mid-palate weight and a lovely phenolic grip that keeps the texture incredibly serious.

• Finish: Long, bone-dry, and intensely refreshing. It tapers off cleanly into a focused, persistent close with absolutely zero heavy or cloying traits. The fruit notes yield gracefully to a mouthwatering baseline of chalky salinity, a touch of grapefruit pith, and a lingering mineral nerve.

Wine Specifications

Serving Tip: Ribolla Gialla thrives on being served properly chilled but not ice-cold, as freezing temperatures will temporarily mask its gorgeous ponca minerality and waxy mid-palate texture. Aim for an ideal serving temperature of 48–52°F. Pour it into a standard tapered white wine glass or a wide-bowled Sauvignon Blanc glass to allow its delicate floral and stone-fruit aromatics to fully uncoil.

Best Food Pairings

Thanks to its structural acidity, textured body, and intensely clean finish, this Ribolla Gialla acts as a phenomenal food partner, easily balancing everything from delicate seafood to rich, fried appetizers:

• The Regional Match: Paper-thin slices of salty Prosciutto di San Daniele, or a savory Italian risotto tossed with fresh spring herbs and young peas.

• Fried Elements: Lightly battered vegetable or seafood tempura, crispy calamari with lemon aioli, or fried zucchini blossoms stuffed with goat cheese.

• From the Sea: Freshly shucked raw oysters, grilled sea bass dressed in olive oil and lemon, or spaghetti alle vongole (clams in white wine and garlic).

• Cheese Course: Young, semi-hard Italian cheeses like Montasio, young Asiago, or tangy, artisanal goat milk chèvre.