Italian Sauvignon Blanc Dating Back To 12th Century

If you want a wine with some history behind it, this is a candidate. The land of the Attems estate in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region of Italy was dedicated to viticulture as far back as 1106. That's the year, not the time of day. They were producing Ribolla Gialla and Refosco wines in 1764.

The winery states that the 2024 vintage saw an uneventful winter, a mild spring, and some welcome rainfall over the summer. The soil from which the Sauvignon Blanc grapes came is partly sandstone that was once a seabed 50 million years ago, and partly alluvial soil dotted with pebbles. The wine was vinified in steel tanks, without malolactic fermentation, and aged for four months on the lees. Alcohol rests at 12.5% abv and the bottle sells for around $20.

This wine has a straw color with a greenish tint. Its clarity is crystal. The nose hits me as New World rather than Old. There is a lot of minerality, the scent of wet sidewalk, and grapefruit. The palate brings citrus minerals to the forefront. An herbal note follows. The mouthfeel is full, yet abundant with acidity. It is a fresh wine, ready for spring salads or shrimp cocktails on the patio. 

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