Picolit

Picolit is an Italian white wine grape variety used to make sweet, late-harvest, and passito wines in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region. It has a long history and was once served to the clergy and nobility of northern Italy. Today, it is still produced in the Colli Orientali del Friuli Picolit DOC and is considered a cult favorite among those familiar with it. The grape is believed to have originated in the Rosazzo region, but is now primarily grown in Friuli. Picolit is difficult to cultivate, with small yields and a delicate vine that requires hand-harvesting to prevent damage. In winemaking, it is traditionally made from semi-dried grapes and is often consumed as a meditation wine. It can be blended with up to 15% of other permitted grapes, but this is not generally favored for quality. Picolit is known for its delicate stone fruit aromas and should not be confused with the similarly named but distinct Piculit Neri from Friuli.