Picolit is one of the most characteristic white grape varieties of Friuli Venezia Giulia, associated above all with the hills of the Colli Orientali del Friuli. Its origins are not entirely clear, but its presence has been documented for centuries and it achieved great renown in the 18th century thanks to Count Fabio Asquini, who promoted its production and introduced it to the courts of Europe. In the 20th century, the variety was revived through the work of Giacomo and Gaetano Perusini, who played a leading role in its rediscovery.
The vine is vigorous and characterised by early budding. The leaf, of medium size, is generally pentagonal and three-lobed, with basal veins showing reddish hues and pronounced serration. The bunch is small, pyramidal, often winged and very sparse; the berries, which are tiny, ellipsoidal and have a firm skin, take on a luminous golden-green hue when ripe. Its particular tendency towards coulure and berry reduction results in sparse bunches, promoting a natural concentration of sugars during the drying process.
Grown mainly in the hilly areas of Cividale, Prepotto, Buttrio, Corno di Rosazzo and the Cialla and Rosazzo sub-zones, Picolit produces wines of a golden-yellow colour, sometimes intense, with aromas of white flowers, honey, ripe fruit, candied citrus and dried grapes. On the palate, it is sweet, enveloping and velvety, underpinned by a pleasant freshness and a long finish. The finest examples possess remarkable ageing potential and develop increasingly complex and harmonious nuances over time.
