VOLPE
PASINI
Dr. Emilio Rotolo is the new owner of Volpe Pasini. Dr. Rotolo holds degrees in medicine but his passion for agriculture brought him to purchase the Volpe Pasini estate. Today Volpe Pasini absorbs all of Dr. Rotolo's time. He is in charge of all facets of the operation from the vineyards to sales and marketing and can count on the services of Riccardo Cotarella, winemaker of international fame. The vineyards extend for 85 acres. Production is 2.2 tons per acre with a total production of 180,000 bottles made exclusively from grapes grown on the estate. All work in the vineyards, including the harvest, is done manually and 80% of the production is in white wines.
The estate is located in Togliano in the Colli Orientali del Friuli. This area has been considered as one of the finest production zones from the days of the Venetian Republic (La Serenissima). The heart of the estate is a group of buildings dating back to 1596 that house the offices, the winery and the warehouse. Inside the walled grounds there is a manicured park and a small plot of Ribolla Gialla that acts as a reminder to the vocation of the property. During the second half of the 20th century Volpe Pasini was one of few estates to focus on the concept of quality estate bottled wines. In the process they were able to establish a strong foothold both in Italy and abroad, especially in the German and US export markets. Today 75% of the production is exported.
The wines that can be considered the classic Volpe Pasini varietals are Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon, and Chardonnay but the winery wants to become the standard bearer of the traditional indegenous varietals of Friuli and thus focus on Ribolla Gialla, Refosco, and Tocai Friulano – whose name has recently change to Friuliano