Midolini Web site

The Midolini winery and vineyards are located in the Colli Orientali del Friuli near the village of Manzano. Here vineyards are planted on hillsides of calcareous marl as opposed to on the alluvial plains which make up a large proportion of the region’s vineyard. Winemaker Alessandro Sandrin (previously at neighbour Vie di Romans) aims to convey a sense of passion, elegance and class in all six of the Rosacroce wines he makes. The wines are characterised by their high extraction of flavour and beautiful texture. Low yields are of course part of this, and in addition extensive new vineyard plantings have been made which are now beginning to come on line. The 15 hectares of immaculate vineyard on one main estate are Alessandro’s pride and joy. They comprise four vineyards: Monte Cristo, Sotto Monte, Ronco della Regina, and Ronco del’ Angelica with vine ages varying from zero to around fifty years old. Sauvignon Blanc, Friulano, and Chardonnay are all harvested by hand in at least three separate passes spanning a number of weeks. This is partly in acknowledgement of the fact that different parts of the vineyard ripen at different times and partly so that when he comes to blend his final wines he has an assortment of styles from which to choose: from the tighter, more keenly acidic juice of the first harvest to the super-ripe, almost late-harvest richness of the final one. Factor in the consideration that his palate is a cosmopolitan one with an awareness and appreciation of the wines being produced in other countries and continents, that his model for Chardonnay is not the Côte de Beaune but Monterey, California, and you have some idea already of what this winery is about.