Livio Felluga Illivio 2023

“The Livio Felluga 2023 Friuli Colli Orientali Illivio is led by Pinot Bianco with Chardonnay, varieties introduced to the region during the Habsburg Empire era. Aged for eight to nine months in French oak, the wine shows subtle integration of wood, with delicate spice framing notes of candied lemon rind, lemon oil and hints of Mediterranean herbs and potpourri. From a cooler, rainy vintage, it balances freshness with notable volume and texture, offering a layered, elegant expression with refined complexity and a softly structured finish. This is a terrific buy at an honest price. Drink: 2026-2033. 94 points

I enjoyed a lovely afternoon with Andrea Felluga and his team, including an extended tasting of his beautiful white wines. We also toured the Abbazia di Rosazzo, perched high above the Friuli Colli Orientali zone, where sweeping views underscore the site’s historic and viticultural importance. A highlight of the tasting was a preview tasting of a macerated white that I have not included in my reviews because the project is not yet finalized; however, I can say that something special is on the way.

The Felluga family rents spaces from the priests who maintain the abbey and has recently transformed some of its most beautiful stone cellars into winery cellars now filled with amphorae, blending tradition with a renewed sense of experimentation. A new winemaking space in an adjacent building includes a tasting room, further expanding the estate’s presence at this remarkable site. These spaces are used alongside the main winery in Brazzano.

Under the vision of the legendary Livio Felluga—who died at age 102 in 2016—the estate has become one of the region’s benchmarks, with a long-standing commitment to expressing the unique character of the Rosazzo subzone, where roses famously grow alongside the vines, reflecting both the beauty and distinct identity of this historic landscape.”

Monica Larner, Wine Advocate (04/26)