Underdog Grape · Italy

Ribolla Gialla

Pronounced ree-BOH-lah JAH-lah

If you drink Pinot Grigio for something crisp and dry, Ribolla Gialla gives you more of everything: sharper acid, real citrus, and a second life as one of Italy's most talked-about orange wines.

Tasting profile
Lemon zest and green apple pulled tight over stony acid, with a faint almond-skin bitterness on the close.
The catch
The skin-contact bottles critics rave about are divisive and rarely cheap. Some taste closer to cider or dried apricot than to the fresh white you were picturing. Start with a clean version before the amber deep end.
Where to buy
For specific bottles and where to buy them, read the deep dive.

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The region

Friuli, Italy

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Ribolla Gialla: common questions

How do you pronounce Ribolla Gialla?
Ribolla Gialla is pronounced ree-BOH-lah JAH-lah.
Where does Ribolla Gialla come from?
Ribolla Gialla grows in Friuli, Italy.
What does Ribolla Gialla taste like?
Expect lemon zest, green apple, white flowers, almond skin. Closest familiar reference: A lean, high-acid alpine white — citrus and pith when made clean, nutty and textured when made on the skins..
What is the catch with Ribolla Gialla?
The skin-contact bottles critics rave about are divisive and rarely cheap. Some taste closer to cider or dried apricot than to the fresh white you were picturing. Start with a clean version before the amber deep end.
Read the deep diveRibolla Gialla: The Friulian White That Reads Two Ways

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