2023 Fiore Sauvignon Blanc Venezia Giulia 750 ml

The plan was hatched—as so many good plans in Friuli are—over dinner at La Subida.

Sitting at a corner table of the rustically quirky restaurant outside Cormons, with its signature ceramic mannequins on the table, our friend Alex tried his best to keep his voice to a whisper as he pitched the idea: What if we could score a wine from a legendary producer—one featured heavily on the list at Subida, which boasts the greatest collection of Friulian wines in the world—and put it in the glasses of Wine Access members for a pittance?

Alex is behind some of our most-beloved Italian white wines. He was born and raised in Friuli, but found love in California, which is where we met him. He splits his time between the two countries these days, importing wines he loves for American drinkers who otherwise wouldn’t have any access…and he’s damn good at it. If anyone can pull this off, we figured, it’s Alex.

As the pasta course arrived, Alex ordered a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc, which paired perfectly with tortelli stuffed with fresh cheese and sculpit—a local herb that reminds us of a cross between tarragon and arugula. As we sipped, we fantasized about delivering that kind of quality for under $20. 

Well, Alex has delivered on his promise…and then some. Fiore is estate-grown and biodynamically farmed, with the unique combination of brilliantly pure fruit and rich mouthfeel that has put this winery in MICHELIN-starred wine lists across the globe. Lovers of Sancerre—not to mention the throngs of Wine Access members who have been turned onto the joys of Friulian Sauvignon—are going to love this.