Blog: Lis Neris | Friuli-Venezia-Giulia

Lis Neris is a long-established family winery, all processes and decisions are made by the heads of the family. The wines are made exclusively from grapes grown in the estate's own vineyards, there are no purchases of any kind. The management is sustainable with respect for the environment, this includes a natural pest control as well as the avoidance of emissions through the use of its own solar system.

Gorizia is the first Italian town that welcomes the Isonzo River as it makes its way from Slovenia to Italy. Gorizia was the most contested border settlement in historical Europe, a fact that is still evidenced by a stele at the entrance to the town. Flowing further south, the Isonzo River crosses an enchanting landscape dotted with small villages. These are nestled with their bell towers and vineyards in a picturesque setting where the spirit of the past blends with the rhythm of modern life. In this area, since 1879, four generations of the Pecorari family have passionately developed one of the most representative wineries in the Friuli region. A striking turning point is the year 1981 in the history of Lis Neris, when new methods and technologies of winemaking were introduced to significantly increase the quality. White wine proved to be the best expression of the local terroir and so wine made from white grapes became the focus of Lis Neris' mission. Today, the goal is to produce wines of increasingly high quality, and Lis Neris sees itself in the role of creating the conditions for nature to achieve this goal.

In the Tertiary period, the sea covered almost the entire region and only its retreat exposed sedimentary rocks, thus creating the fertile Isonzo Valley, which today serves as the basis of Friuli's viticulture. The Isonzo Valley was formed during the Ice Age, when the melt waters of the glaciers shaped the current geomorphological profile. Erosion, frost and snow created a surface of clayey, reddish soil - rich in iron oxide and other minerals. In this fertile and geologically valuable valley area lie the vineyards of Lis Neris. The relationship between the people and their land, has led to the creation of the term 'terroir'. A term that defines the vineyard in all its morphological, climatic, cultural and human aspects. This knowledge allows Lis Neris to bring more and more the character of the territory in each vintage. In doing so, the Pecorari family leaves nothing to chance and uses the most modern cellar techniques, always maintaining a close relationship with the vineyards and the surrounding landscape.

At the end of the 19th century, the Pecorari family began growing grapes near the ancient village of San Lorenzo. It was then that the excellent single vineyard Lis Neris, today the flagship of the winery, was first planted with vines. The 69 hectares of vineyards of the winery are located on a small plateau and are characterized by gravelly soils and boulders of the terroir. A strong fragmentation of the plots is typical of the region. From this fact, the opportunity was taken to allocate the appropriate plot to each grape variety. Today, the Lis Neris winery is run by the 5th generation of the family. Alvaro Pecorari focuses primarily on the production of sophisticated white wines, which he undoubtedly succeeds in doing.

In doing so, Pecorari strives to use natural resources to add polish and elegance to his wines. Another cornerstone of success is the meticulous work in the vineyard, hand harvesting and the use of the latest cellar technology. Lis Neris processes only its own grapes. The young wine of the best grapes is aged in small oak barrels to achieve more complexity and balance. At Lis Neris, consistent attention is paid to producing wines that reflect the great potential of the vineyards in harmony with an intact natural environment. Lis Neris is today one of the top winemakers in Friuli. Numerous international awards and the presence of his wines on the best wine lists in the world are an expression of great appreciation. - Gerardo [TS06/22]