The Marinig family's winemaking traditions date back to 1921 when great-grandfather Luigi, who already owned a small estate, bought a second estate and devoted his considerable winemaking skills to its management. He later passed the estate on to his son, Guido, who had helped his father in the vineyards ever since he was a boy and even participated actively in running the home. Over eighty years have passed since then. Today Valerio, an oenologist, builds on the experience of the past generations and runs the estate with the same passion and professional competence. He works in both the vineyards and the cellar. He is assisted by his wife, Michela, an economics graduate, his father, Sergio, and his mother, Marisa, who is a wine expert. A very closely-knit family dedicated to making wines of superior quality.
The Colli Orientali del Friuli zone is a land of unique characteristics ideally suited to winemaking. Some 2300 hectares (approx. 5580 acres) of vineyards stretch along the most eastern segment of the province of Udine, on the border with Slovenia. A rich variety of mesoclimates (cooler and moister in the north, milder and dryer in the south) caress ranges of hills whose position and composition are particularly favourable. The hills formed some 50 million years ago from a unique mixture of marls (calcareous clays) and sandstones (calcified sands) - called ponca in the local dialect - which is particularly beneficial for the production of fine wines. The other special conditions which make Colli Orientali wines different include the vicinity of the Adriatic Sea and the protection offered by the Julian Alps against cold northern winds, combined with year-long gentle ventilation.
Unique characteristics guaranteed by the Consorzio Tutela Denominazione Origine Vini "Colli Orientali del Friuli" (DOC association) to preserve a tradition that dates back to the time of the Ancient Romans and maintained for over two thousand years. In Friuli - a land influenced by the peoples who conquered it over the centuries - good wine is always inseparably associated with good food. The fertile land of Friuli is also appreciated for its many food specialities. A good glass of wine is the perfect accompaniment to the simple yet rich and tasty local cuisine.
Beyond the Judrio river you come to Prepotto, which is the third in hectares-under-vine of the seventeen municipalities of the Colli Orientali zone. Eight precious hectares of vineyards are cultivated by the Marinig family, producing about 80 q/ha per annum. The vineyards are in a hilly area where the particular shape of the land and the local climate create the perfect environment for quality wines. Not forgetting the care, attention and craft skills involved in vineyard work which produce superior results. The harvest is done exclusively by hand.