Ben says

★ Good Wine Aromatic grape varieties – in this case Malvasia, which originated in Greece’s Laconia but has found its modern home in Istria, Croatia – can make very interesting orange wines. They can also feel a bit much. This one from Italy’s Friuli in the north-east falls on the right side of that line. Waxy, floral aromas full of fresh orange juice lead the way. It is textured with ripe, soft skin phenolics giving some tannins alongside white grape, nutmeg spice, and perfume. If you like very floral wines, you’ll love this more than I did, but it’s a solid example of blossom-like orange wine.

Guerrieri Rizzardi '3 Cru' Amarone della Valpolicella Red Wine

KEY POINTS

Varietal Malvasia with 12.5% abv. Grapes are destemmed and crushed before macerating on skins for 15 days. Ageing is in oak for 11 months.

Grown in: Friuli, ITALY.

Food Pairing

Floral, blossom like orange wines like this are great pairings with fried fish like goujons or calamari.

Disclosure & Price

Tasted during a study session. Find in the UK for circa £28.95 from Beckford Bottle Shop.

Reviewed and tasted: 07/01/2025

Ben Franks Wine Tasting Note Producer Profile

About the Producer

Ferlat was founded in 1950 and overlooks 7.5 hectares of vines in Friuli Venezia Giulia, north-east Italy. The estate is managed by Moreno Ferlat and Federica Tabacchi, who believe in organic viticulture and minimal intervention. The vineyards have naturally growing herbs as cover crops and only copper and sulfur are sprayed.