Borgo del Tiglio

Nicola Manferrari makes beautifully pure, chiselled wines, and over the last 30 years, Borgo Del Tiglio has become a benchmark in Friulano winemaking culture. He is revered for his ability to bring out textural complexity in Friulian varietals. A pharmacist in his early professional life, he came to winemaking by accident after his father’s unexpected death in 1981. Disheartened by the trend at the time to pick Friulano early to maintain acidity (before it had fully ripened), he dreamt of a different kind of wine, one that could age well, so he decided to add Riesling and Sauvignon to Friulano to give acidity and aromatics – ‘Studio di Bianco’ was born. His style is simple and non-invasive and seeks to express the terroir and purity of fruit with minimal manipulation. Each parcel of vines is fermented separately to maximise the influence of terroir. Preferring to ferment and mature his wines in oak to give texture and depth, he is careful not to let it overpower the wines. After minimal time in stainless steel (just 3-4 days!) the wines are transferred to barrels where they spend at least nine months, then after bottling, they stay put for a further six months before they’re released. These are some of the most age-worthy wines that you will find, not just in Italy but worldwide, and Borgo del Tiglio deserves its reputation as one of the world’s greatest estates.