Picolit (1981)

About this wine

This wine is made from 100% Picolit grown in the Colli Orientali del Friuli, a region known for its marl and sandstone soils. The grapes are late harvested and traditionally partially dried to concentrate sugars and flavors, then the wine is aged in small oak barrels for many months. In the glass it shows a deep golden color with aromas of dried apricot, orange peel, honey and toasted almond, with delicate floral hints. On the palate it is rich and textural, yet kept in balance by lively acidity and a saline mineral thread that runs through the finish. The texture is silky with a long, layered finish that recalls candied citrus and beeswax, and the wine’s concentration and acidity give it notable aging potential.

About the grape

Picolit is an ancient Friulian white variety known for partial floral fertilization which produces very small, concentrated berries and extremely low yields, a trait that made it prized in the 18th century and linked to the writings of Count Fabio Asquini. In the Colli Orientali del Friuli, where Livio Felluga sources this bottling, Picolit is grown on marl and sandstone flysch soils locally called ponca, typically on terraced sites between 100 and 400 meters above sea level to promote ripening and concentration. Growers traditionally train Picolit using the Cappuccina system and harvest by hand in small crates to select the few ripe berries, then vinify carefully with part drying and controlled fermentation often in small oak casks to preserve the grape's structure and aging potential.

Quick facts

• 🍇 Picolit grapes naturally abort most flowers so each cluster yields only a handful of tiny, super-concentrated berries, which is why a single 1981 bottle represents a very large amount of vineyard work.
• 🥂 Livio Felluga’s Picolit is usually made in half-bottles (375 ml), a tradition aimed at preserving and showcasing the wine’s delicate sweetness in small, collectible formats — many vintage bottles you’ll find from 1981 are in this size.
• 🪵 The winery ages Picolit in small French oak barrels and keeps it long on the fine lees, a style choice that gives older bottles like a 1981 an almost caramel, pastry-like texture and lingering spice notes.
• 👑 Picolit was a sensation at European courts in the 18th century and Count Fabio Asquini famously marketed it in blown glass bottles; that aristocratic reputation follows bottles like Livio Felluga’s 1981, which are treated as mini royal treasures by collectors.
• 🔎 Because Picolit plantings are tiny and yields are microscopic, production is extremely limited — finding an original Livio Felluga Picolit 1981 is rare enough that each bottle often carries both historical cachet and a collector’s premium.

Palate profile

Producer

Livio Felluga, born in 1914 in Isola d'Istria, established his eponymous winery in 1956 in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of northeastern Italy. After World War II, he revitalized abandoned hillside vineyards in Rosazzo, pioneering modern winemaking techniques and focusing on quality production. His innovative approach included introducing single-varietal bottlings and creating the iconic 'Geographical Map' label in 1956, symbolizing his deep connection to the land. Today, the winery spans over 187 hectares, producing renowned wines that reflect the unique terroir of the region.