2021 Buzzinelli Ribolla Gialla Collio Friuli-Venezia Giulia 750 ml

Wind-swept foothills. Crisp ocean air. Near-constant sun. Italy's Collio is a veritable Eden for white wine, and Ribolla Gialla—one of Italy’s most prestigious white grapes—absolutely thrives there.

From their prime hillside perch, Buzzinelli has crafted a benchmark bottling in their energetic and mineral 2021 Ribolla Gialla. A wine that delivers terroir-driven personality reminiscent of Premier Cru Chablis, it stands alone with its aromas of lemon peel, chamomile, ginger root, and wild fennel. Sip after sip reveal notes of stone fruit, citrus, and crushed limestone, all riding a throughline of vibrant, mouthwatering acidity.

Bottles like this have given Ribolla Gialla a global fanbase of sommeliers, vintners, and white-wine lovers. Cultivated in Friuli for nearly a millennium, the grape is now inspiring renowned California winemakers like Steve Matthiasson and Dan Petroski to work with the grape in the land known primarily for Cabernet.

Nestled in the forested hills above the Adriatic Sea, a mere ten-minute drive from the Slovenian border, the organically farmed Buzzinelli estate is located in the high-rent district for Ribolla Gialla. Here, the prized ponca soils—Friuli’s unique combination of brittle fossil-laden marl and sandstone—deliver Ribolla with the most depth and minerality of anywhere in the world.

Maurizio Buzzinelli is the third generation of his family to make wine from their vineyards around Pradis. The winery was founded by his grandparents, Luigi and Polda, and it dates back to 1937. Now, Maurizio and his team hand-harvest their Ribolla Gialla before fermenting in stainless steel and resting it on the lees. It emerges as a bright, complex, refreshingly mineral wine—one perfect for everything from fresh summer salad to mussels in garlic sauce.