Livio Felluga

Livio Felluga built his estate from the ground up in the 1950s after emigrating from Istria, establishing his cellar in Brazzano and setting out to restore the reputation of Friulian wine after the devastation of World War II. His family winemaking roots stretch back six generations to Isola d'Istria. In 1956, he introduced the now-famous geographical map label that has become one of the most recognizable symbols in Italian wine. The estate today encompasses the historic Abbazia di Rosazzo, an ancient abbey whose cellars and vineyards form a cornerstone of the property. The second and third generations of the Felluga family now lead the estate.

• Cellar established in Brazzano, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, in the 1950s
• Geographical map label introduced in 1956 and still used on every bottle
• Abbazia di Rosazzo cellars and vineyards are part of the estate
• Family winemaking heritage dates back six generations to Isola d'Istria

The estate sits across Colli Orientali del Friuli and Collio Goriziano, two of Friuli-Venezia Giulia's most prestigious appellations. The region benefits from a temperate, Adriatic-influenced climate, sheltered from cold northern air by the Alps and moderated by sea breezes from the Adriatic to the south. Soils are dominated by Ponca, the local term for the interbedded marl and sandstone that characterizes the Friulian hills, alongside calcareous deposits and clay-marl compositions. These conditions produce grapes with bright natural acidity and distinctive mineral character.

• Soils are primarily Ponca, a mix of marl and sandstone typical of the Friulian hills
• Alps to the north and Adriatic Sea to the south create a temperate, protected growing environment
• Estate spans 159 to 187 hectares under vine
• Vineyards fall within two DOC appellations: Colli Orientali del Friuli and Collio Goriziano

Livio Felluga focuses primarily on white wines, made from varieties including Friulano, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Bianco, Ribolla Gialla, Chardonnay, Picolit, and Malvasia. Red wines are also produced from Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso, Merlot, and Pignolo. Stainless steel fermentation and extended lees aging are the foundation of the white wine style, delivering crisp, aromatic, and mineral-driven wines. The flagship Terre Alte, first produced in 1981, blends Friulano, Pinot Bianco, and Sauvignon Blanc and stands as one of northeastern Italy's benchmark white wines. The estate produces approximately 1 million bottles annually across the Livio Felluga and Russiz Superiore lines.

• Terre Alte, created in 1981, blends Friulano, Pinot Bianco, and Sauvignon Blanc
• White wines are fermented in stainless steel with extended lees contact
• Red varieties include Pignolo, a rare indigenous Friulian grape
• Wines regularly score 90 or above from major international critics

Livio Felluga is widely recognized as a pioneer of the post-World War II quality wine renaissance in Friuli-Venezia Giulia. His work in the Colli Orientali and Collio placed the region firmly on the international fine wine map. The geographical map label, now over 60 years old, has become an icon of Italian wine identity. The estate's Abbazia di Rosazzo and Terre Alte wines remain reference points for Friulian white wine quality, and the producer continues to earn global critical recognition as a premium, family-owned estate.

• Credited with reviving quality viticulture in Friuli after World War II
• Geographical map label is one of Italy's most recognized wine label designs
• Premier DOC and DOCG producer with consistent critical acclaim
• Family-owned and operated, now into the third generation