Golden straw in the glass, this Malvasia from Castelvecchio has gorgeous floral and grapey muscat aromas, with pear and apricot fruit notes and saline minerality interwoven. It is a textural wonder, with zingy acidity, and fruit-driven length. Complex and stony with fruit intensity. Delightful.

Hailing from the tiny DOC of Carso in Friuli is the family-owned and certified organic Azienda Agricola Castelvecchio estate, owned by the Terraneo family since 1986. They specialise in the native varieties of the region: Malvasia Istriana, Refosco and Terrano, and have been carrying out agricultural, agritourism, historical and cultural development projects at the estate ever since. The Castelvecchio estate extends over a plateau 145 metres above sea level, opening up to the Alps to the north and the Adriatic Sea to the south, and comprises 35 hectares of vines set within a native forest, only 2km from the border with Slovenia. This is wild terrain, with high winds and vines having to be individually drilled into the limestone bedrock and interestingly for Italy, terra rossa terroir. Historical evidence confirms that as early as 1578, vineyards and olive trees thrived on the karst hills where the Villa Veneta estate, the precursor to Castelvecchio, was built in 1700. The rich landscape provides stunning views of parklands, cypresses, yews and centuries-old oaks.