Attems

The history of Attems dates back to 1106 when Archbishop of Salzburg presented the Attems family with 42 hectares of land in the Friuli region. According to the archives, right after that the family started producing wine and became one of the leading winemaking dynasties in the region. When Count Douglas Attems inherited the estate in 1935, he completely restructured the vineyards, modernized production and opened a new chapter in the history of Attems.

Attems produces mostly white wines, noted for their bright and fresh flavor, structure, minerality, and style. It now works with both noble grape varieties — such as Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Pinot Grigio, — and native grapes, including: Ribolla Gialla, Tocai Friulano, and Malvasia Istriana.

Attems vineyards are located on an estate north of Venice, in the Friuli region which is justly considered to be one of the best for the production of white wine in Italy. Located in close proximity to the sea, the vineyards are protected from both the cold winds of the Alps and the strong winds of Trieste. The reflecting effect of the sunlight gives a particularly intense luminosity that contributes to the optimal ripening of grapes. Significant temperature fluctuations during the day enhance the character of the wines. Composed mostly of marl and sandstone, the local soils are ideal for winegrowing.

In 1964, the Attems estate was designated DOC (Denomination of Controlled Origin). And in 2000, Attems joined the Frescobaldi Group, in particular to expand distribution of the wines.