August 6, 2025 (Collio Hills, Italy) — Nestled in the heart of the Collio hills lies a magical place where a passion for wine seamlessly intertwines with the stunning landscape. Here, the Gradis’ciutta winery, spearheaded by visionary entrepreneur Robert Princic, crafts extraordinary wines that embody the heart and soul of this unique region. Robert Princic is deeply attached to Collio: besides being his homeland and the place where he founded his company, he served as President of the Collio Wine Consortium for six years.
Collio, a pioneer in Friuli Venezia Giulia in obtaining the DOC, Controlled Designation of Origin, is strategically located between the Isonzo river, the Judrio river and the imposing Julian Alps mountain range. The quality of the wines produced derives from a microclimate that is optimal for the development of viticulture: a mild and temperate climate, enhanced by the presence of gently rolling hills that stretch almost without interruption, offering large areas exposed to the south. In addition, the proximity of the Julian Pre-Alps acts as a shield against cold winds, while the proximity of the Adriatic coast contributes to the significant summer temperature ranges.
Once celebrated not only for its wines, but also for its fruit and olive oil, the scene of battles during the Great War and crossed by a border after the Second World War, Collio has maintained its resilience. In 1964, it was among the pioneers in forming the Consorzi di tutela vini in Italy, becoming the first in Friuli Venezia Giulia. Today, its name is universally associated with white wines of excellent quality.
The vineyards of the Gradis’ciutta company, scattered in various plots and at different altitudes in this area, cultivate white varieties, from long-standing autochthonous ones such as Ribolla and Friulano, to international and red varieties.
The local term to describe the Collio soil is “Opoca” or “Ponca”, consisting of siliceous marls and clayey marls, sometimes even sterile, where native vines thrive, expressing their full potential. Even varieties of French origin (Sauvignon, the Pinots, etc.) have proved to be perfectly adapted to these soils, as shown by experiments conducted at the end of the 19th century, later reported by the 4th Oenological Congress.
Ponca represents the real secret of Collio wines, adapted to the high rainfall of the area thanks to its extraordinary drainage capacity. It conserves limited quantities of water, enriched by the minerality of the soil, proving essential during periods of drought or particularly high temperatures. It is therefore not surprising that the DOC regulations state that the wines must come exclusively from the hills (above 50 metres above sea level), since only in these areas is this unique and distinctive soil found.
About Gradis’ciutta
Founded in 1997 by Robert Princic in the heart of Collio, the Gradis’ciutta company now extends over 50 hectares of vineyards located both on the Italian side of Collio and in Slovenia. This dual territorial soul allows the richness and complexity of a unique wine-growing area to be best expressed through the production of highly identifiable varieties such as Chardonnay, Ribolla Gialla, Malvasia, Friulano and Pinot Grigio. The collaboration between the two sides of the border has given rise to a shared vision and a production that acts as a spokesperson for a cross-border identity, where wines become a symbol of connection between cultures, true bridges that unite rather than borders that separate.
At the heart of it all, sustainability is one of the company’s core values: Robert Princic has chosen to adopt environmentally conscious, organic winegrowing, based on respect for nature, people and the land, with the aim of creating authentic, sophisticated wines deeply rooted in their origins.
