La Viarte

LA VIARTE – which in the Friulian language means “spring” – is a hillside estate covering an area of 34 hectares; of these, 24 are vineyard, while the remaining part has been deliberately kept as woodland to preserve the landscape and the natural microclimatic balance. The estate is located in the splendid area of the Friuli Colli Orientali D.O.C., between the municipalities of Corno di Rosazzo and Prepotto. Prepotto, the municipality in which the estate is located, stretches along the Judrio Valley, a torrential river that, for a long stretch, marks the border with Slovenia. On one of these hills stands La Viarte, surrounded by vineyards at an altitude of about 200 metres. Here, the temperature range and the cool Bora winds coming from the Balkans favour the health of the plants and the aromatic composition of the grapes. Founded in 1973, after more than ten years of terracing and vineyard planting, the first label was introduced to the market in 1984 and, since 1986, the entire range of wines has been available. Owned by the Polegato Family, who together with all their staff work daily to care for and valorise the native varieties — among which the symbolic whites stand out: Friulano, Ribolla Gialla and Malvasia, and the great historic reds of Friuli: Schioppettino di Prepotto, Pignolo, Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso and the rare Tazzelenghe. To these is added Siùm, whose name in Friulian means “dream”, an amber passito made from Picolit and Verduzzo Friulano grapes. The estate has a welcoming, modern tasting room, where enthusiasts are gladly received and can, by reservation, taste the wines accompanied by typical products of the territory. The soil on which the vineyards stand is locally called Ponca and is composed of marls and sandstones — that is, calcareous clays and calcareous sands — as well as shell fossils dating back to the Eocene. The soils are rich in mineral salts that give the grapes, and consequently the wines, a savoury, elegant character of great longevity.