Michele Tomba proudly represents the winery that carries his mother’s name, located in the municipality of Cormòns, at the foot of Mount Quarin, in the bucolic landscape of the Collio. This corner of Friuli-Venezia-Giulia is characterized by lush rolling hills where vineyards are interspersed with dense woods. The jagged profile of the Alpine chain frames it to the North and East while the Venetian lagoon seals its southern border. Slovenia is just a stone’s throw and Cormons carries evident signs of its Austro-Hungaric heritage and the blend of cultures, where Roman elements mix with Longobard, Venetian, Austrian, and Slavic aspects.
Wine production at Bolzicco dates back to the mid-fifties when Michele’s grandfather slowly began to acquire vineyards. Back then, viticulture was just one of the activities that kept the estate alive, together with the cultivation of cereals and raising farm animals. In the early 70’s Michele’s mother, Bolzicco Fausta, takes over the farm and begins to direct the focus toward wine production, through a slow expansion of the vineyard acreage. At that time the wines were sold in bulk at the family’s "Frasca", an improvised refreshment point typical of the area, often held in a room of the farmhouse, where farmers who were unable to sell all their products would try to get rid of of overproduction. It’s the year 2017 when Michele, after having worked 24 years in three different local wineries, decides to begin to bottle their wines under the Bolzicco label.
The estate-owned vineyards are quite old, with the oldest dating back to 1949, and the youngest planted in the year 2,000. The 8 hectares are located in a peculiar location, as they spread across three different appellations that come at a meeting point right in Cormons. Bolzicco’s parcels are scattered between the Collio Goriziano, Friuli Isonzo, and Friuli Grave and are mainly planted with the white varietals of Friulano, Ribolla Gialla, Malvasia, Verduzzo, and Sauvignon. Minor plantings of Pinot Grigio are used to make a skin-macerated “ramato” while the only red wine produced is Merlot.
The soils in the section that falls within the Collio DOC consists of stratified marls and sandstones of Eocene origin called "ponca". On the Isonzo and Grave side, the earth is deeper, composed by clay, limestone, and gravel. The proximity to the Alps and the cooling effect provided by the “Bora” are key elements in defining this border land, and making it an ideal area for indigenous white varietals.
Michele’s approach in the vineyards follows organic principles and the promotion of biodiversity. In the cellar, he prefers to avoid unnecessary manipulation with maximum respect for raw materials combined with his constant scrutiny.
