Dario Raccaro

The Friuli region is famous for its sophisticated Italian white wine culture. Lovers of fine wines who are short on time should definitely travel to Cormòns, the main town in the wine-growing region. The beautiful little town near Udine, already known as a Roman military station in 181 BC, is home to an impressive concentration of top producers of white wines. Dario Raccaro is undoubtedly one of the most important winegrowers, who also play an important role in the international competition for the highest scores. Although the charismatic winemaker likes to sing the praises of his Malvasia - truly an extraordinarily delicious wine - from his small range, it is the Friulano Vigna del Rolàt in particular that has elicited hymns of praise from the wine world. It remains the strong magnet of the still young wine producer, which is rarely found on retailers' shelves with a vineyard area of just under seven hectares and an annual production of just 34,000 bottles.

The Raccaro family can look back on almost a century of history. The year was 1928 when Giuseppe Raccaro decided to flee the stony and barren soil of the Natisone Valley to settle in the middle of the Collio hills in an old colonial house at the foot of Monte Quarin near the church of Santa Maria Apollonia. The fertile farmland he found there allowed Giuseppe to pursue his work as a farmer more successfully than before and to better feed his family.

Mario's son Dario, who has been continuing his father's work since 1970, is also committed to tradition. The charismatic owner of the estate, who now runs the small winery together with his sons Luca and Paolo, decided in the 1980s to concentrate mainly on viticulture. He expanded his own property by adding an old vineyard planted with Friulano at the beginning of the last century. A wise decision: The leased vineyards - according to folk tales, the vines originated from Hungary - were soon to make Raccaro famous with the Vigna del Rolàt. As the same vines and shoots were always used for new plantings, the wine of the same name has retained its unique characteristics and outstanding consistency to this day.

The Dario Raccaro winery prefers stainless steel tanks and cold stabilisation for its white wines. It is the best proof of how you can make a name for yourself in a short space of time with just a few labels and an exceptionally consistent performance. SUPERIORE.DE

"The quality of Dario Raccaro's wines has made it possible for this simple, small winery to reach the Olympus of the regional wine world." Gambero Rosso