Friulian Whites Gift Basket

It's that time of year when the season begs for frosty whites, and there are none better than the world-class whites of Friuli. Here in the northeast corridor of Italy, the fusion of German, Slavic, and Italian cultures has influenced the creation of Italy's best white wines. There are not the simple Pinot Grigios that have recently overrun American wine shops or the oxidized wines of the old world, but rather about the structured, complex bottlings that rival many of the classic German and French whites. In addition to the importance of the native Ribolla Gialla and Tocai, Friuli's reputation lies in the production of international varietals - French grapes introduced more than two centuries ago by Napoleon's army (most notably Sauvignon Blanc) - and the blended wines known as Friuli's Super Whites.