Call Me by Your Name

DOC Collio finally approves an orange wine classification

It’s been 30 years since Joško Gravner and Stanko Radikon first decided to skin-ferment their Ribolla Gialla. That once-radical act almost single-handedly kick-started the orange wine renaissance in Europe. But it also barred them access to their region’s highest quality classification. Instead of using the prestigious Collio name, they were permitted only to write IGP Venezia, or even just Vino Bianco without any geographical indication.

In December 2024, something historic happened. The Consorzio Tutela Vini Collio (the body that manages wine classifications and regulations for the Friuli Collio sub-region) voted 72% in favour to create a new orange wine category.

Will we finally see Gravner, Radikon or Dario Prinčič wines displaying their Collio origin on the label? Does it matter?

I spoke with Saša Radikon to find out more.