In the far north-eastern corner of Italy, on the Slovenian border, the Collio and the Colli Orientali del Friuli are white wine country first and foremost. This is also where modern orange wine took shape, in the hamlet of Oslavia above Gorizia. The estates are mostly family run and almost every cellar works by appointment. This guide, part of our complete guide to Italian wine regions, covers the grapes, six estates that take visitors, a three-day plan and where to stay.
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Quick answer: Collio and Friuli wine country in 2026
- Best estate for a first visit: Mario Schiopetto in Capriva del Friuli, a classic Collio white wine house with a bookable tour and tasting in English.
- Best tasting experience: the cellars of Castello di Spessa, a medieval cellar above a 1930s bunker used for ageing, with a castle, golf course and spa on the same estate.
- Best village or base: Cormons, in the middle of the Collio, with Capriva del Friuli a close second.
- Best months: May, June, September and October. Harvest usually runs from late August or early September into October, depending on the year.
- Book ahead: every cellar visit, a driver for tasting days, and dinner at La Subida in Cormons.
Check prices and availability
Collio hotels are small. If they are full, Udine is about half an hour away.
The wines: grapes, appellations and styles in plain English
Two hill zones matter most. The Collio Goriziano (usually just “Collio”) runs along the Slovenian border between Gorizia and Dolegna del Collio, with Cormons and Capriva del Friuli at its heart. It became a DOC in 1968. North-west of it, around Cividale del Friuli and Manzano, lie the Colli Orientali del Friuli, the “eastern hills”, now labelled Friuli Colli Orientali.
The grapes to know:
- Friulano: the local signature white, called Tocai Friulano until an EU ruling forced a name change in the late 2000s. Usually dry and medium bodied.
- Ribolla Gialla: an old local white, made in every style from crisp and still to sparkling to long skin-contact orange wine.
- Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Malvasia and Pinot Bianco: all widely grown.
- Collio Bianco: a white blend of permitted varieties.
- Picolit and Verduzzo: local grapes used for sweet wines.
- Reds: Merlot and Cabernet Franc, plus native Refosco, Schioppettino and Pignolo, mostly in the Colli Orientali.
Orange wine is white wine made like red: the juice stays on the skins for days, weeks or months, giving an amber colour and more grip. The style is ancient, but its modern revival is closely linked to two Oslavia families, Gravner and Radikon. A partner who prefers something lighter will find fresh Friulano and Ribolla Gialla at most estates.
Across the border the same hills continue as Brda in Slovenia, an easy add-on for a second-day lunch if you have a driver.
The wineries: six cellars that take visitors
Almost every estate works by appointment only. Where details come from the regional tourist board (PromoTurismoFVG) or an official booking listing rather than the estate itself, we say so. Where no price is published by the estate, check with the estate. Distances are approximate driving times from Cormons.
1. Castello di Spessa, Capriva del Friuli
A 13th century castle with a wine estate, golf course and spa. The wines are made in Cormons and aged here. The visit leads through the medieval upper cellar, with brick vaults and terracotta floors, and down about 70 steps to a 1930s military bunker some 18 metres underground, now used for ageing reds. Tastings of wine, grappa and honey are offered.
- Booking: cellar visits and tastings must be booked in advance, also for hotel guests.
- Duration, languages, minimum guests, price: check with the estate.
- Distance: about 10 minutes from Cormons.
See our Castello di Spessa review.
2. Mario Schiopetto, Capriva del Friuli
A historic name in Collio white wine. The estate’s own experience is sold through the Winedering booking platform: a winery tour and a tasting of five wines at its osteria nearby.
- Duration: about 2 hours 30 minutes for the tour and tasting.
- Languages: English and Italian.
- Booking rules: from 2 guests, at least 2 days in advance, according to the booking listing.
- Price: our research turned up contradictory figures across platforms, and we could not confirm one from the estate. Check with the estate.
- Distance: about 10 minutes from Cormons.
3. Marco Felluga, Russiz Superiore, Capriva del Friuli
The Collio estate of the Marco Felluga winery, with a small relais among the vines. According to the regional tourist board, the tasting room seats 35 and the estate is open Monday to Friday 9:30 to 18:00 and Saturday 10:00 to 18:00, closed on Sunday.
- Booking: by reservation only, through the estate’s visits page, by phone or by email.
- Languages: English.
- Duration, minimum guests, price: check with the estate.
- Distance: about 10 minutes from Cormons.
4. Venica & Venica, Dolegna del Collio
A family estate in the quiet northern Collio, with rooms on site. According to the regional tourist board, it offers a choice of two guided cellar tours with tastings, for up to 12 people.
- Opening: Monday to Saturday 9:00 to 18:00, closed on Sunday (regional tourist board).
- Languages: English and German.
- Booking: by email. Advance notice, minimum guests and price: check with the estate.
- Distance: about 15 to 20 minutes north of Cormons.
5. Radikon, Oslavia (Gorizia)
One of the two Oslavia names behind the orange wine revival, known for long skin contact. This is a working family cellar, not a visitor centre. Details below are from the regional tourist board.
- Opening: Monday to Saturday, by reservation only. Closed on Sundays and public holidays.
- Group size: the tasting room holds up to 8 people.
- Languages: English and Slovenian.
- Duration, price: check with the estate.
- Distance: about 25 minutes from Cormons.
A note on Gravner: the neighbouring Gravner estate, famous for ageing its wines in Georgian clay amphorae, is listed by the cross-border tourist board as open for visits and tastings only by reservation. We could not confirm the format or any fee from the estate itself, so write well ahead.
6. Abbazia di Rosazzo, Manzano (Livio Felluga)
A hilltop abbey in the Colli Orientali, surrounded by vineyards and rose beds. Its historic cellar dates to the end of the 13th century, when Benedictine monks aged wine and olive oil here. The abbey’s website lists the cellar as visitable by appointment, with enquiries to the Livio Felluga winery. The “Path of the Roses” suits a partner less into wine in the warmer months.
- Opening (abbey, 25 October 2026 to 28 March 2027): Monday to Saturday 9:00 to 12:30 and 14:00 to 17:00; Sunday 9:00 to 12:30 and 15:00 to 18:00. The site does not say clearly whether these hours also apply to cellar visits.
- Tasting format, languages, price: check with the estate.
- Distance: about 25 minutes from Cormons.
Jermann in Dolegna del Collio: we could not verify its 2026 visit arrangements from an official source, so contact the estate directly.
Comparison: the six estates at a glance
| Estate | Area | Signature wine | Visit type | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castello di Spessa | Collio, Capriva | Collio whites, Amadeus Metodo Classico | Cellar and bunker tour, tasting | Couples, golfers |
| Mario Schiopetto | Collio, Capriva | Collio whites, Pinot Grigio | Tour and 5-wine tasting | First-time visitors |
| Russiz Superiore | Collio, Capriva | Collio whites | Tasting by reservation | Staying among the vines |
| Venica & Venica | Collio, Dolegna | Collio whites | Guided cellar tour, tasting | A quiet country stay |
| Radikon | Oslavia, Gorizia | Orange Ribolla Gialla | Small group, by reservation | Orange wine lovers |
| Abbazia di Rosazzo | Colli Orientali, Manzano | Rosazzo DOCG white | Historic cellar by appointment | Mixed couples, history |
A sample three-day itinerary
Roads are narrow and winding, so allow extra time. Above all, hire a driver for tasting days. Italy’s drink-drive limit is 0.5 g/l, and zero for drivers in their first three years after passing the test. Our Italy travel planner covers transfers.
Day 1: the western Collio. Arrive via Trieste airport (roughly 30 minutes to Capriva) or Venice (around 1 hour 30 minutes). Late morning tour and tasting at Schiopetto, then lunch at its osteria. In the afternoon, the cellar and bunker tour at Castello di Spessa, ten minutes away. Dinner in Cormons.
Day 2: Oslavia and orange wine. Morning at Radikon in Oslavia, about 25 minutes from Cormons, followed by a walk through Gorizia’s old centre. If you have arranged it well in advance, add Gravner. Afternoon at Russiz Superiore, then dinner at La Subida, whose Trattoria al Cacciatore holds one Michelin star in the 2026 guide (closed Tuesday and Wednesday).
Day 3: the eastern hills. Drive about 25 minutes to the Abbazia di Rosazzo for the cellar and rose garden, then Cividale del Friuli, about 20 minutes further, for lunch and its Lombard monuments, part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. On the way back, stop at Venica & Venica.
Best months, harvest and practical tips
May and June bring mild weather and estates with time to talk. September and October are the most atmospheric, but harvest usually runs from late August or early September into October, and small cellars may have less time for visitors then. July and August are hot. In winter, hours shorten, so ask before you book.
Event to know in 2026: Gusti di Frontiera, a food festival in Gorizia’s historic centre, ran from 24 to 27 September 2026 and is usually held in late September, so check the 2027 dates nearer the time.
- Shipping wine home: ask each estate whether it ships to your country before buying by the case; rules outside the EU vary.
- Dress: smart casual, flat shoes and a layer for cool cellars.
- Children: policies vary, so ask each estate when booking.
- Timing: plan two cellars a day, three at most. Many estates close on Sundays.
Charlotte’s tip: taste orange wine last, and slowly
Skin-contact wines are more structured than the fresh whites and can dull your palate for what follows. Put the orange wine visit at the end of the day, and pair it with an afternoon in Gorizia so the day works for a partner less into wine.
Where to stay: four hotels in the Collio
Luxury here means small and rural rather than grand, so book early for harvest. For more ideas, see our guide to vineyard hotels and wine resorts in Italy.
Castello di Spessa, Capriva del Friuli
A castle residence with 15 rooms in the manor plus further rooms and apartments on the estate, an 18-hole golf course, the Vinum Spa and its own cellars. It is about 10 minutes from Cormons and Schiopetto and 25 minutes from Oslavia. Opening periods are not clearly published, so ask the hotel about winter stays.
Best for: couples who want wine, golf and a spa without moving the car.
Check rates at Castello di Spessa
La Subida, Cormons
A relais of small houses on the edge of a wood outside Cormons, with a pool, tennis court and the Michelin-starred Trattoria al Cacciatore. Our research turned up contradictory information on the size: the cross-border tourist board lists 15 rooms, while an association of historic residences lists 17 double rooms plus singles. It was not clear to us which applies, so confirm with the hotel when you book. The Capriva estates are about 10 minutes away.
Best for: food lovers who want dinner a short walk from bed.
Relais Russiz Superiore, Capriva del Friuli
Seven rooms, including a suite, on the Russiz Superiore estate, each with a private terrace or garden according to the regional tourist board. There is no restaurant, but wine-paired dinners can be booked. Schiopetto and Spessa are a few minutes away, Cormons about 10. Seasonal opening is not stated, so ask the hotel.
Best for: couples who want to wake up inside a working wine estate.
Check rates at Relais Russiz Superiore
Venica & Venica Wine Resort, Dolegna del Collio
A small number of rooms, junior suites and apartments on the Venica estate (one hotel listing gives eight rooms), with a summer pool, bike rental and vineyard walks. It is about 15 to 20 minutes from Cormons and around 35 from Oslavia. Seasonal opening is not stated, so ask the hotel.
Best for: travellers who want peace and a tasting at the door.
Check rates at Venica & Venica Wine Resort
Check prices and availability
If your dates are taken, Udine is a practical base about 30 minutes from Cormons.
To pair the vineyards with a day at sea, see Trieste by boat.
Collio’s white wine tradition continues across the border and down the coast: see our Istria wine guide and the wider Croatia wine guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I visit Collio wineries without an appointment?
Rarely. Almost every estate, including all six in this guide, works by appointment. Book at least a few days ahead, and further ahead for small producers such as Radikon and Gravner.
What is the difference between Collio and Colli Orientali del Friuli?
Both are hilly white wine zones. The Collio lies along the Slovenian border around Cormons and Gorizia; the Colli Orientali lie further north-west around Cividale and Manzano, and also produce more native reds such as Schioppettino and Refosco.
Is orange wine the same as natural wine?
No. Orange wine describes a technique, white grapes fermented on their skins. Natural wine describes a broader philosophy of minimal intervention. Some wines are both, but the terms are not interchangeable.
How many days do I need?
Two full days cover the Collio and Oslavia comfortably; a third adds the Colli Orientali, Rosazzo and Cividale. Combine it with the Prosecco hills, about 1 hour 30 minutes west, for a longer north-east Italy wine trip.
