Jermann

Jermann's roots trace back to 18th-century Burgenland in Austria, where Silvio's ancestors began their journey westward. In 1881, Anton Jermann, Silvio's great-grandfather, moved from modern-day Slovenia to Villanova di Farra in Friuli and established the winery. The family remained growers for generations until Silvio, the fifth generation, took charge in the early 1970s after studying oenology at Conegliano and working abroad in Canada. Inspired by Mario Schiopetto's approach to clean, precise winemaking, Silvio returned with bold ideas that would transform the estate and, ultimately, Friuli's international reputation. In 2021, Antinori acquired a majority stake, though Silvio retains a minority interest and remains central to the winery's creative direction.

• Anton Jermann (Silvio's great-grandfather) founded the estate in 1881 after migrating from Slovenia to Villanova di Farra d'Isonzo in Friuli-Venezia Giulia
• Silvio took charge in the early 1970s after studying oenology at Conegliano and working in Canada; he was inspired by Mario Schiopetto's vision for clean, precise Friulian whites
• In 2021, Antinori acquired a qualified majority of the company; Silvio retains a minority stake and continues to run the winery, with winemaking led by Luca Belluzzo
• Two estate locations: the historic Villanova di Farra d'Isonzo winery and the CasaClimaWine-certified Ruttars cellar in Dolegna del Collio, inaugurated on 07.07.07

Jermann fundamentally elevated Friuli-Venezia Giulia's standing in the world of wine. By applying cool fermentation in stainless steel, extended lees aging, and a respect for the region's field-blending heritage, Silvio Jermann created a template for quality that reshaped perceptions of Italian white wine. The success of Vintage Tunina, which won Wine of the Year from Gambero Rosso for the 1997 vintage, demonstrated that northeastern Italy could produce age-worthy whites of international stature. In 2016, Silvio was crowned the most representative producer of Italian white wines in the world in a vote held in Rome under the aegis of Gambero Rosso, a recognition of more than four decades of leadership. Jermann's influence extends well beyond commercial success; the winery proved that a family estate in Friuli could compete at the highest levels through commitment to terroir and precision.

• Vintage Tunina won Wine of the Year from Gambero Rosso for the 1997 vintage (announced November 1999), cementing Jermann's international reputation
• Silvio Jermann named the most representative producer of Italian white wines in the world by Gambero Rosso in 2016, after more than 40 years of leadership
• Pioneered the use of Stelvin screwcap closures for premium Italian white wines in the late 1990s, demonstrating that the format preserves aroma and freshness over time
• Inspired by Mario Schiopetto, Jermann helped establish stainless steel fermentation and lees aging as cornerstones of the modern Friulian winemaking identity

Jermann's winemaking philosophy centers on terroir expression through precision rather than manipulation. The vast majority of wines are fermented in stainless steel to preserve pure aromatics and fruit character. Vintage Tunina, the estate's flagship, is a genuine field blend from a 16-hectare plot called Ronco del Fortino: Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay dominate, with varying proportions of Ribolla Gialla, Malvasia Istriana, and Picolit, all harvested together approximately two weeks later than the normal harvest. After gentle pressing, the wine undergoes a long, cool fermentation followed by aging on the fine lees. The second iconic wine, Where Dreams Have No End (first produced from the 1987 harvest and dedicated to U2's Joshua Tree album), is the estate's only barrel-fermented wine, made predominantly from Chardonnay aged in 300-liter French barrels. Capo Martino and Vinnae round out the prestige range alongside single-varietal expressions.

• Vintage Tunina: genuine field blend from 16 ha on Ronco del Fortino; Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay dominant, with Ribolla Gialla, Malvasia Istriana, and Picolit; harvested late, aged on fine lees; first released 1975
• Where Dreams Have No End: first produced from the 1987 harvest; predominantly Chardonnay; the estate's only barrel-fermented wine, aged in 300-liter French oak with no malolactic fermentation
• Winemaking core: stainless steel fermentation for most whites; extended lees contact; minimal intervention; Stelvin screwcap closures adopted in the late 1990s
• Vine density in Tunina vineyard is 6,000 to 7,000 vines per hectare; yields are kept well below the regional average with late harvesting for additional concentration

Jermann whites are characterized by bright straw-yellow to pale gold color with golden highlights and exceptional clarity. The nose is typically intense and elegant, showing honey, wildflowers, orchard fruits, and the mineral salinity that is the signature of Collio's ponca soils. On the palate, wines are dry, focused, and structured when young, with a racy spine of acidity that gives them their characteristic length and aging potential. Vintage Tunina develops layers of white peach, citrus, and subtle spice with bottle age, while retaining mineral freshness. The distinctive Stelvin screwcap closure is a recognizable marker across the premium range. Current market pricing places Vintage Tunina at approximately $70 to $90 per bottle, with Where Dreams Have No End at a similar tier.

• Appearance: bright straw-yellow to pale gold with golden highlights; exceptional clarity reflecting meticulous, low-intervention winemaking
• Nose: intense and elegant; honey, wildflowers, orchard fruit (white peach, citrus), mineral salinity from ponca soils; no excessive oakiness in most wines
• Palate: bone dry and focused when young; racy acidity, mineral backbone, and fine texture; develops complexity and richness with bottle age while retaining freshness
• Closure: Stelvin screwcap across the premium range since the late 1990s; the format was validated when the 1997 Vintage Tunina was judged 'perfect' for its preserved aromas and liveliness

Jermann farms two distinct estates in Friuli: the historic site at Villanova di Farra d'Isonzo in the Isonzo zone, with approximately 150 hectares, and the Ruttars estate in Dolegna del Collio, with approximately 20 hectares. The defining soil of the Collio and Ruttars sites is ponca, a friable mix of marl and sandstone from Eocene-age flysch formations. This soil has a high pH, drains excess water efficiently, and allows vine roots to penetrate deeply, imparting the mineral salinity that defines Jermann's style. The estate benefits from a moderating climate shaped by protection from the Julian Alps to the north and warm Adriatic air currents from the south. Of the 170 hectares under vine, 20 are organically certified, and the Ruttars winery holds CasaClimaWine sustainability certification. Cover crops, no synthetic pesticides, and biodiversity support are central to the estate's approach.

• Ponca soils (marl and sandstone of Eocene-age flysch) at Ruttars and Collio sites provide the mineral salinity and deep drainage that define Jermann's aromatic profile
• Villanova di Farra d'Isonzo site also includes alluvial soils with red gravel, noble clay, and calcareous white gravel, adding textural diversity to the estate's range
• 20 of the 170 vineyard hectares are organically certified; no synthetic pesticides are used across the estate; cover crops and biodiversity management are standard practice
• Ruttars winery (inaugurated 07.07.07) is CasaClimaWine certified, recognizing its construction and operation under genuine environmental sustainability standards

Jermann has earned sustained recognition from the world's leading critics and wine guides. Vintage Tunina regularly draws scores in the 92 to 96 point range from critics including James Suckling and Wine Spectator. The 1997 vintage was named Wine of the Year by Gambero Rosso in November 1999, an honor that cemented the estate's international standing. Capo Martino 2018 received Tre Bicchieri recognition in the 2021 edition of Gambero Rosso's Italian Wines guide. In 2016, Silvio Jermann was voted the most representative producer of Italian white wines in the world by the press assembled in Rome under Gambero Rosso's aegis. Jermann wines are distributed internationally and appear on wine lists across Europe, the United States, and Japan, with the estate reporting approximately 15 million euros in annual revenue at the time of the 2021 Antinori acquisition.

• Vintage Tunina 1997 won Wine of the Year from Gambero Rosso (November 1999); recent vintages regularly score 92 to 96 points from James Suckling and Wine Spectator
• Capo Martino 2018 received Tre Bicchieri recognition in the 2021 Gambero Rosso Italian Wines guide
• Silvio Jermann named the most representative producer of Italian white wines in the world by Gambero Rosso in 2016
• Strong international distribution, particularly in Germany and the United States; wines appear on fine dining lists globally and are recognized as benchmarks for Italian white wine