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school before falling in love with the family business during a stint as a sales rep—ven- tured outside the more common Veneto and Trentino-Alto Adige regions when looking for a home for Terlato's Pinot Grigio. Winemakers Primo Franco of Nino Franco Prosecco and Roberto Anselmi of Anselmi Wines (both of which are in the Terlato portfolio) instead steered him toward a property in Friuli-Venezia Giulia's Colli Orientali region. Bill believed strongly in Colli Orientali's potential for producing premier Pinot Grigio and launched Terlato Vineyards' rendition of the variety from this 240-acre estate with the 2014 vintage. After increas - ing production with the 2016 vintage, the project quickly turned Terlato's goal into reality, as its Pinot Grigio is currently the fastest-growing in Italy, according to Nielsen data. Friuli's Potential When asked what sets the Terlato Vine- yards Pinot Grigio apart from its coun- terparts, Bill's answer is simple: "Taste it and see the difference." The concentrated, complex wine is far more than the requi- site porch-pounder Pinot Grigio consum- ers have come to expect: Several factors contribute to its nuanced character, all of which relate back to the company's deci- sion to solely use estate-grown fruit from the Colli Orientali region in Friuli-Venezia Giulia. "We believe that Friuli—specifically Colli Orientali in Friuli—is the best place to produce white wine in Italy, and we want to be the best in class," Bill notes. Tucked into the corner of northeastern Italy and bordered by both Austria and Slovenia, Friuli has certainly made waves in the past decade for its ability to produce aromatic, expressive white wines. Colli Orientali and neighboring Collio are the two most important Friulian regions for quality winemaking; in the former, hills (colline in Italian) define the landscape and vineyards are planted along slopes or on terraces. Grapes here benefit from plentiful sun and warmth during the day, encouraging ripening in order to build full flavor and body, but cool air from the nearby Julian Alps also flows through the vineyards at night, preserving lifting acidity. This push-pull of richness and refresh - ment defines the Terlato Pinot Grigio and the wines of Colli Orientali as a whole. And while Friuli's natural grow- ing conditions for high-quality white wines have contributed excellent fruit to Terlato's Pinot Grigio, the company has bolstered the region as well. Accord- ing to Bill, production of Friulian wines has grown more than 15 percent in just one year—more than any other Italian region—largely due to the success of Terlato Vineyards' Pinot Grigio. Quality Over Quantity The distinction that Terlato's Pinot Grigio is produced from estate vineyards is an im- portant one. Beyond the natural advantag- es of hillside vineyards and excellent marl and schist soils, estate production allows Terlato to follow its grapes through the entire viticultural process. "It's about having complete control," Bill says. Opting for low yields and hand-harvesting, for instance, prioritizes quality over quantity despite the fact that these methods are more costly and time-consuming. At its Friulian estate, Terlato has also partnered with viticulturalists Marco Si - monit and Pierpaolo Sirch, known for their namesake pruning method. Specifically designed to elongate the life of a vine, this approach has created a wealth of healthy old vines on the estate. "We have many older vines averaging 20–30 years in age which produce wines of exceptional qual - ity," Bill notes. While it might be easier and cheaper to sacrifice these viticultural methods in favor of mechanized ones, Bill feels the effort and expense are worthwhile given consumers' rising preferences for compel - ling premium wines over high-volume and low-cost options. The facts back up his theory: While many Italian Pinot Grigios can be found around the $10 price point, Terlato expects 16,000 placements in retail shops and restaurants by the end of 2018 despite the slightly increased price. Terlato Vineyards' Colli Orientali del Friuli project may have been created to elevate the category of Italian Pinot Grigio, but the estate's potential doesn't stop there. Terlato will launch an estate-grown Friulano, the region's local specialty, with the 2017 vintage. To Bill, it simply establishes a natural extension of a company that's pushed boundaries for decades. "Our goal is to extend multiple generations into the future as a family-owned luxury beverage company," he says, noting that the fourth generation of Terlatos are currently enter - ing the business. "We continue to produce and represent selected world-class brands and will continue to acquire vineyards in the best regions." { SOMMjournal.com } 7 Terlato Vineyards' Colli Orientali del Friuli project may have been created to elevate the category of Italian Pinot Grigio, but the estate's potential doesn't stop there. Terlato will launch an estate-grown Friulano, the region's local specialty, with the 2017 vintage. contribute to its nuanced character, all of which relate back to the company's deci- sion to solely use estate-grown fruit from the Colli Orientali region in Friuli-Venezia "We believe that Friuli—specifically Colli Orientali in Friuli—is the best place to produce white wine in Italy, and we want to be the best in class," Bill notes. Tucked into the corner of northeastern Italy and bordered by both Austria and Slovenia, Friuli has certainly made waves in the past decade for its ability to produce aromatic, expressive white wines. Colli Orientali and neighboring Collio are the two most important Friulian regions for quality winemaking; in the former, hills in Italian) define the landscape Terlato Vineyards' Colli Orientali del Friuli project may have been created to elevate the category of Italian Pinot Grigio, but the estate's potential doesn't stop there. Terlato will launch an estate-grown Friulano, the region's local specialty, with the 2017 vintage.