The Border Vineyards Trail

A journey through vineyards, hills and historical landmarks in the heart of Friuli Venezia Giulia, along the border that for decades divided Europe. From Gorizia to Cividale del Friuli, this route winds through the Collio and Colli Orientali regions, a landscape of rolling hills planted with vines, historic villages and sites that recount the events of the First and Second World Wars, right up to the Cold War years. Between Italia and Slovenia, different traditions, languages and identities converge, whilst the paths wind their way through vineyards, oak and chestnut woods, sanctuaries and ancient pilgrimage routes. The journey also offers the chance to gain an insight into the work of the winegrowers who have contributed to the revival of these hills, now renowned for some of Italia’s most highly regarded wines. Visits to wineries and meetings with those who work the land form an integral part of the experience, alongside the stories of local communities and accounts of a border history that has left a deep mark on both the landscape and the people. The itinerary takes in symbolic locations such as Gorizia, Cormons, Prepotto and the sanctuary of Castelmonte, and concludes in Cividale del Friuli, a town steeped in Lombard heritage.