Livio Felluga "Terre Alte" Rosazzo DOCG 2021
(Rosazzo, Italy) - [JS 94] [DM 93] [WS 92]

About the Winery:
The winery was founded in 1956, after Livio Felluga relocated from his native Istria, but the family's winemaking traditions date back to the mid-19th century. Founder and patriarch Livio Felluga is accredited with innovating and mastering modern wine making in Italy. While Felluga passed away in 2016 at the age of 102, his reputation for creating exceptionally lush, crisp and well-balanced wines extends well beyond the region of Friuli. His wines are recognized the world over as the finest in their categories. Today, the family-owned winery is led by Livio's son, Andrea Felluga.

The 500-acre Livio Felluga Estate includes 370 acres of rolling hillside vineyards in the Collio and Colli Orientali del Friuli. Friuli's temperate climate, protected by the Alps to the north and moderated by the Adriatic Sea to the south is a winemaker's dream. The sparse soil of marl and calcareous deposits is ideal for the white varieties, and also for their complex red wines.

About the Wine:
Created in 1981, Terre Alte is considered one of Italy's most prestigious white wines. The balanced blend of Friulano, Pinot Bianco and Sauvignon grapes, estate-grown at Rosazzo in the historic Terre Alte vineyards, yelds a superbly elegant wine with a profusion of intense fruit and flower aromas. A wine of outstanding structure, Terre Alte acquires a wonderfully complex bouquet of tertiary aromas with bottle aging.

13.5% ABV

Tasting Notes: Bright, intense yellow, with subtle golden hues. On the nose, it is eclectic, extremely complex and stylish. Floral sensations of orange blossom, jasmine and honeysuckle, enriched by citrus notes of yellow grapefruit, kumquat and candied citron, and hints of ripe fruit like percoca, yellow peach and apricot. Seductively tropical nuances of pineapple, papaya and passion fruit enfolded by sage, thyme, rosemary and maquis. Spicy touches of white pepper, ginger and saffron complete the bouquet. The palate is seductive, well-balanced and layered with distinctive harmony between freshness and volume, rich texture and grip. Floral aromas of hawthorn and acacia flowers, followed by fruity hints of tobacco peach, hazelnut, almond and citrus, closing on notes of custard, vanilla and honey. A delicate mineral note creates a taut, lingering finish, with a pleasing salty tang that blends nicely with the wine’s rounded, velvety profile.

Food pairings: Excellent with fish dishes, vegetable starters, white meats and cheese.

Ratings & Reviews

94 Points - James Suckling:
"An elegant wine focused on minerality. Restrained lychee, sage and stony mineral character. Light-bodied with crisp acidity, a silky texture and a tense, slightly tight palate due to brilliant acidity. Drink or hold." (Sep 2024)

93 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"A supremely delicious wine from the accomplished Livio Felluga winery made from grapes in the small Rosazzo DOCG, Terre Alte is a blend of Friulano, Pinot Bianco and Sauvignon Blanc vinified first in stainless steel then completed in oak. Soft peach, mango and hints of ripe green fruits rise from the glass, while the intense and flinty core is wrapped in layers of generous tropical flavours. Smoky and creamy touches lurk in the background, showcasing oak ageing on the lees. Fresh, indulgent and stylish.” – James Button (Mar 2025)

92 Points - Wine Spectator:
"A graceful white, bright and focused, with vibrant acidity enmeshed with a silky weave of baked pear, apricot, almond butter, lemon thyme and pastry flavors. This is long and fluid, with a fresh, mineral-driven finish. Pinot Bianco, Friulano and Sauvignon. Drink now through 2035. 25 cases imported." - Alison Napjus (May 2025)