Have you already heard about the Puiatti family from Collio? They have been part of the wine scene for more than 50 years, starting with Vittorio, Giovanni’s father, in the northeastern Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia.
The winery is situated in Farra d’Isonzo in the Collio wine region, close to the Slovenian border. Today, Giovanni has changed the concept, producing smaller quantities with a clear and unique philosophy. The wines have lower alcohol levels and see no oak ageing or fermentation. Instead, he uses stainless steel tanks and bottle ageing to preserve and showcase the purity and true character of the grape varieties grown on his land.
Collio: one of Friuli’s great wine regions
First, I would like to talk a little bit more about the region itself.
Collio lies on the north-eastern border of Italy with Slovenia and was reunited with Italy only after the First World War. The region is particularly famous for its high-quality white wines, which make up the majority of production.
This predominantly mountainous region has some of the oldest and best-established vineyards in Friuli, creating excellent conditions for varieties such as Friulano, Malvasia, Picolit, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Rhine Riesling and Ribolla Gialla.
For red wines, we can find Pinot Nero, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. And, of course, Collio also produces some delicious sparkling wines from these varieties.
Giovanni Puiatti and the Villa Parens philosophy
Villa Parens is the result of the imagination and hard work of Giovanni Puiatti, who took over the vineyards from his father Vittorio. Vittorio started in the 1970s, building a vineyard of 80 hectares and a winery producing around 800,000 bottles.
He introduced important innovations that helped revolutionise the production of white wines and Pinot Noir. Around six years before this article was written, Giovanni decided to focus on exclusivity and began his avant-garde project at the nineteenth-century family property, Villa Parens.
The name comes from the Latin word parens, meaning “ancestors”, as a tribute to the family’s roots.
A focused selection of grape varieties
The Puiatti Collio project focuses on just four grape varieties: one indigenous variety, Ribolla Gialla, and three international classics, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Nero. These are grown in a precious family estate vineyard on the hills of Ruttars, one of the most valuable cru areas. The vineyards have been reconverted to sustainable and reasoned viticulture.
Giovanni believes that the owner must be the winemaker, taking care of every detail personally, from the vineyard to the label, while pursuing responsible farming and winemaking techniques. For him, it is about creating something with a clear identity and a strong sense of place. He never talks about quality; instead, he speaks of style, philosophy, emotions, and pleasure.
The Puiatti Collio wine ranges
Giovanni has developed different ranges within his portfolio, beginning with the Ruttars cru wines, varietal wines made from the four grape varieties mentioned above under the Venezia Giulia IGP designation.
Traditional-method sparkling wines
The sparkling wines are made using the Traditional Method, with the second fermentation taking place in the bottle.
The Blanc de Blancs NV is 85% Ribolla Gialla, while the remaining 15% is Giovanni’s secret. He also produces two vintage sparkling wines from Pinot Nero: a Gran Rosé and a Gran Noir.
Library Vintages
For collectors, there are special-release Library Vintages, which have been aged for much longer in the bottle to develop greater complexity and more pronounced aromas and flavours.
Tribute Edition
And for the real enthusiasts, there is the Tribute Edition, produced only in exceptional years.
These are not overwhelmingly expensive wines, but highly enjoyable, high-quality expressions that show the potential of the region, the vineyard and the grape varieties.
The Puiatti philosophy
The wines of the Puiatti family in Collio are ultimately about restraint, purity and identity. By avoiding oak fermentation and ageing and working primarily with stainless steel and bottle ageing, Giovanni aims to let the grape variety and vineyard speak clearly.
It is a philosophy that makes the Puiatti wines particularly interesting for anyone who wants to understand the character of Collio and Friuli-Venezia Giulia through the glass.
“Passion leads me beyond the limit, continuously searching for something I can’t describe, doesn’t exist, that I can’t wait.”
— Giovanni Puiatti
The Author
