These ancient varieties of vines were believed to have vanished, as men neglected them and brambles took over the vineyards. They have been brought back to life and treated respectfully, as if they were precious archaeological items. The vines, which were discovered on some family estates (mainly in the Spilimbergo area), contributed to raising the interest of the press, experts, workers in the sector and simple wine lovers. After a long, pain-staking research, some old vines varieties were brought back to life. These include Piculìt Neri (possibly the grapes that the Romans made "vinum pucinum" from), Sciaglìn (probably of the family of "schiavoline" grapes), Forgiarìn (the name derives from Forgaria, a small town from which, in the past centuries, greatly requested vine pruners left to emigrate to Hungary and Rumania), Cividìn (the wine is

mentioned in documents from the XVII and XVIII century and was greatly appreciated during wedding banquets), Cjanòrie (from the town of Gemona) and Ucelùt (belonging to the group of so-called "uve uccelline" [bird grapes]).

 

"How proud would Britain be to have our vines, our Refoschi, our Picoliti, our Cividini, our Ribuole? These great wines are as good as the most famous French wines, but ours will always be better thanks to our Picolito, as long as the French do not try to obtain some, having heard of its reputation. As they are always trying to achieve perfect wines, they might make it better and more famous than ours".

Excerpt from "Degli Scritti di Agricolture Arti e Commercio", written by Antonio Zanon, Udine, 1828