Vie di Romans are based in the heart of DOC Friuli Isonzo (Mariano del Friuli), in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, where winemaker Gianfranco Gallo’s 65 hectares of vineyards produce about 250,000 bottles a year. Here, the well-drained soil is stony, glacial and rich in minerals, soaking up rainfall like a sponge. An easterly wind ensures cool night temperatures to temper the hot summer days, with a large diurnal range slowing ripening and allowing the grapes to accumulate flavour. This, along with the low yields that Gallo achieves and his proclivity for picking grapes once fully mature, results in single-vineyard wines of great intensity and richness. As a result, Gallo releases the Vie di Romans wines a year later than the local norm.
Their elegant ‘Vie di Romans’ Chardonnay has a spicy character due to Gianfranco’s judicious use of oak. All the Vie di Romans wines have the hallmark of excellent individuality, which sets Gianfranco Gallo apart from the crowd.
The grapes for the Vie di Romans Chardonnay are sourced from the estate’s 10.75-hectare vineyard in the commune of Mariano del Friuli, located at an altitude of 31 metres above sea level. Soils here are medium to deep, reddish-hued clay with a gravel-pebbly texture. The vines are planted at a density of 6,000-7,800 vines per hectare, and are trained using the Guyot method and spur pruning.
