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Giovanni Dri

Viticulture on the steep slopes of the Julian Alp 'Il Roncat' is far from easy considering hard manual labour is the only way to work the vines so often plagued by frost and hail. But Giovanni Dri was born at the foot of this mountain in the village of Ramandolo, making him predestined to craft wines of relatively unknown native varieties. Giovanni's dream was almost shattered in 1976 when a massive earthquake destroyed the fruits of his labour. His perseverance to succeed accumulated in the construction of a new winery in 1990, making him able to bring some of the most unique and rarest wines to the rest of the world.  

Recognition came when authorities granted the area of Ramandolo its own DOCG for the production of a sweet desert wine made from dried Verduzzo Friulano grapes, a style Giovanni Dri can be considered a pioneer of. Another famous desert wine produced is Picolit, ultra-rare because of its limitation to a small DOCG area and its susceptibility to diseases causing tiny yields.

Besides desert wines Giovanni Dri also produces some remarkable red wines including a Refosco. The oenological philosophy is to keep things simple, with minimal intervention and handling allowing the grapes to express their individuality and authenticity to a maximum. http://www.drironcat.com/