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THE GRAPPA IN FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA

The Italian grappa is famous all over the world, so much so that even the European Council with a regulation in 1989 ruled that only vinasse distillates produced in Italy can be called grappa. The history of grappa is lost in the mists of time , the legend would even go back to a Roman legionary of the 1st century. BC, who, returned to his homeland after having stolen in Egypt a plant for the distillation of vinasse, he had applied the techniques learned to the vinasse of his vineyard in Friuli. The distillation, however, is probably began between the eighth and sixth centuries BC in Mesopotamia, while the first evidence of that applied to grape to obtain acquavitae is on the twelfth century by the alchemists. The techniques for distilling true grappa, were codified by the School of Salerno around 1000. The vinasse are the skins of the grapes once separated from the must or the wine. The quality of grappa depends primarily on the quality of vinasse used, and secondly on the master distiller’s ability.

The grappa has a long history, especially in northern Italy and Friuli Venezia Giulia, where the grappa is now one of the symbols of this land. Years of distillation, still using traditional methods, have meant that the quality of this grappa is always high and that here we find the most famous companies and oldest distilleries.

Day 1: Arrival in Udine, the main town of the region. Guided tour of the historic center, starting from Piazza della Libertà, one of the most beautiful squares in the Veneto mainland, with the Loggia del Lionello, the Clock Tower, the Renaissance Loggia of St. John, the Church of St. John, the fountain, the column with the Lion of St. Mark, the Statue of Peace, the column with the Statue of Justice by Paleario . We continue taking the climb to the Castle Hill: under the elegant Arch Bollani, designed by Andrea Palladio, we reach the top of the hill, where dominant the city, stands the Castle. Built in the early sixteenth century on the ruins of a fortress whose existence is attested since the 983 as donation from the Empire to the Patriarchate of Aquileia, the castle is today an elegant building, seat of the Civic Museums and Galleries of History and Art and the Gallery of Ancient Art. Next to the building and connected to it by means of the Arch Grimani, is the House of the Brotherhood, belonging to the adjoining Church of St. Mary of the Castle , the oldest in the city. Stop for lunch in a winery in the city center with typical dishes of Friuli, wines and grappa. In the afternoon, we visit Piazza 1 ° Maggio, former zardingrants the Church of St. Anthony Abbot and the Patriarchal Palace, home to the world-famous Tiepolo Galleries and the Diocesan Museum. Dinner at restaurant with typical dishes, wines and grappa of the Friuli. Overnight. Day 2: After breakfast, departure to Spilimbergo, which in 2013 was awarded as the " Jewel of Italy " with 20 other Italian towns. We visit the Castle and the Cathedral of Santa Maria Maggiore, one of the most important Gothic buildings in Friuli. But Spilimbergo is best known as the "city of mosaics" because is the capital of mosaic art in Friuli Venezia Giulia hosting the Mosaic School of Friuli, internationally renowned and very popular both in terms of cutting-edge manufacturing techniques for the materials used. After the visit, continue to Castions of Zoppola, to visit the Distillery Pagura. The distillery Pagura is one of the oldest in Friuli. It was born in Castions of Zoppola in 1879. The activity took place in the center of the small rural town with the original name of "Sgnaperie." We assist in the process of production and distillation of grappa and taste the various types of grappa typical home. Continuation to Pordenone. Lunch at local restaurant with regional dishes, wines and grappa of Friuli. In the afternoon, walk in the center, along the Corso, where we meet the Palazzo Ricchieri and the Town Hall, in Gothic style. Dinner in a typical restaurant with regional dishes, wines and grappa of Friuli. Overnight. Day 3: After breakfast, visit to the Cathedral of St. Marc, built at the end of the fourteenth century, in the Romanesque and Gothic style. Inside, paintings by Tintoretto and Pordenone, including the altarpiece of Our Lady of Mercy and the fresco of San Rocco. Departure to Aquileia, one of the most important Roman archaeological sites in northern Italy. We will visit the Basilica, the first building of Christian worship, built in 313 AD, the Forum, dating from the second century AD, the burial ground, the remains of the river port, the Roman houses, the Mausoleum and finally the museums: the Archeological National Museum, the most important in northern Italy, the Museum of Early Christian Monastery and the Museum of the Patriarchate. Lunch in a restaurant with regional dishes, wines and grappa of Friuli.

In the afternoon, visit the Distillery Aquileia. The company takes development when Mr Flavio Comar, winemaker, was succeeded by his son Alexander in 1993; from there onwards the production is refined further and some very special grappa are produced. We follow the process of production and distillation of these unique grappa. Continue to Gorizia. Dinner in a typical restaurant with regional dishes, wines and grappa of Friuli. Overnight.

Day 4: After breakfast, guided tour of the city, starting from the Duomo, overlooking St. Hilray Court, then the area of the Castle Village, with houses lined up along the main street, pull over and very elongated on the back. Long the Piazzale Seghizzi, begins the climb to the Castle, the most famous monument of the city, located on the highest point of a steep hill. It is currently the seat of the Folklore Museum and of a rich Art Gallery of modern artists of Germany and the Veneto region. For a light lunch, we will move in Cormons, about 14 km, to the Town’s Winery, where we will taste different types of wine combined with many typical products of Friuli and two types of grappa. In the afternoon, departure to Farra d'Isonzo, to visit the Tenuta Villanova, whose origin dates back to Roman times. We will visit the winery and distillery, with the old boiler with copper alembic, from which from 1797 will produce selections of grappa and spirits, higher sensory experience. Depending on the time, opportunities to dine at the Tenuta or back to Gorizia in a typical restaurant with regional dishes, wines and grappa of Friuli. Overnight.

Day 5: After breakfast, depart for Cividale del Friuli. Visit the old town, Piazza del Duomo and the Cathedral, dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta, the Town Hall, dating from the XVI century, the Palace of the Venetian, built in the late sixteenth century and designed by Palladio, now home of the National Archaeological Museum, the Medieval house in Borgo Brossana, dating back to '300, the Church of Santa Maria Court, Piazza San Biagio with the chapel dedicated to St. Peter and San Biagio, and finally crossing a footbridge hanging over the river Natisone, we arrive at the Lombard Temple. Inside frescoes painted by Byzantine craftsmen and stucco decorations. Continue to Nimis to visit the Distillery Ceschia, one of the oldest of Friuli, founded in 1886 by a wagon pulled by a horse on which was one of the first stills street, owned by James Ceschia. We will visit the winery and distillery. Continuation to Udine, the starting point for the return trip.