The Bortoluzzi estate was founded in 1982 by Giovanni Bortoluzzi who had been working in the wine industry for nearly two decades. He graduated from the Scuola Enologica di Conegliano, the top enology school in Italy at the time, and began making his own wine at just twenty years old. But after seventeen years working as a consultant and bottler for other top wineries, even becoming a “wine ambassador” for Collio and Isonzo, he branched out on his own.

Giovanni’s long experience and in-depth knowledge of the region’s appellations helped him choose ideal vineyards around the winery in Gradisca d’Isonzo and a few in Collio and Isonzo. “I recall my first harvest when the children were still quite small,” says Giovanni with a smile. “There was a real sense of satisfaction in seeing that those vines, which had been cared for so painstakingly and so long, had rewarded my efforts.”

The impression you get when visiting the winery is one of clockwork synergy and simultaneously, warmth and hospitality. The Bortoluzzi philosophy is “Wine is not just any product: in it, we find the passion, love, and dedication of the people who crafted it. The more you love wine, the easier it is to transmit your message to the consumer: sensibility is very important, as is tradition. We strive to be forward-looking to improve. At the same time, we never forget what history and experience have taught us. Most important of all, we focus on the quality and naturalness of the product, from vineyard to bottle: healthy grapes, genuine wines.”