In the eastern hills of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, on the border with Slovenia, lies a landscape that is much more than a natural beauty: it is a geological concentration of history, energy, and winemaking vocation. We’re talking about the Flysch of Cormòns, locally known as Ponca, a soil that is one of the key elements behind the unique identity of the wines from the Colli Orientali del Friuli and the Collio.
Formed over millions of years of marine sedimentation, Flysch is a combination of marl and sandstone arranged in alternating layers, the result of tectonic movements, compressions, and uplifts that shaped today’s morphology. This substrate not only defines the landscape but deeply influences vine growth dynamics and, consequently, the quality of the wines born here.
A rich, fragile, and complex soil
Flysch stands out for its heterogeneous composition: marl (calcareous clay) has the capacity to retain water and gradually release nutrients, while sandstone (cemented sand) promotes efficient drainage and limits vegetative growth, concentrating the plant’s energy on the grape clusters. This balance between retention and drainage is crucial for the vine, which grows under moderate water stress conditions ideal for producing high-quality grapes.
Chemically, the soil is rich in limestone, potassium, and phosphorus, elements that give the wines a distinctive mineral profile and vibrant acidity. It is a living, dynamic soil, in constant transformation: fragile enough to crumble easily, contributing to the formation of a complex and fertile humus.
The “ronchi”: architecture of the vine-covered landscape
Because of its friability, Flysch requires careful agronomic management. Over the centuries, humans have adapted to these conditions, creating a unique agricultural landscape. This led to the birth of the famous "ronchi" terraced vineyards built along the slopes, shaped with dry-stone walls or embankments that optimize sun exposure, improve drainage, and reduce erosion risk.
This cultivation method, beyond its practicality, holds aesthetic and cultural value: the ronchi represent the perfect meeting point between natural landscape and human knowledge, between geology and viticulture.
A terroir that enhances Friulian white wines
It is especially in white grape varieties that the Flysch of Cormòns expresses its noblest vocation. Friulano, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Ribolla Gialla, Malvasia Istriana: varieties that, in this context, gain unique aromatic depth and gustatory tension. These wines are characterized by:
- clean aromas, often floral and white-fleshed fruit notes;
- fresh, pronounced acidity that enhances their longevity;
- saline minerality and persistent savoriness on the palate;
- elegant and balanced structure, making them versatile but never trivial.
These are wines that speak the language of the land they come from—able to combine immediacy with complexity, pleasure with depth.
Flysch as a guardian of identity
The Flysch of Cormòns is not just a soil it’s an identity element, a matrix connecting the vineyard with the culture, history, and environmental awareness of the region. It’s what sets the wines of Collio and Colli Orientali del Friuli apart from any other Italian or international white. It is the tangible proof that wine is the expression of a place a liquid messenger of a unique, intimate geography.
In a wine world that is increasingly global and standardized, Flysch is a precious asset for those seeking authenticity, deep roots, and an emotion tied to the land. Because a great wine always starts with great soil and in Friuli, the Flysch of Cormòns is its purest incarnation.
