The Collio Sauvignon Extempore 2019 has been recognized as Italy’s Best White Wine of the Year, achieving a score of 99/100 in the Essential Guide to the Wines of Italy 2026 by @DoctorWine.

This result fills us with pride and gratitude: for our daily work, for the family history we safeguard, and for the deep bond with the Collio, a unique land that inspires us every day.

Extempore was born as a challenge: a Sauvignon that dares to break the mold, capable of surprising with its freshness, intensity, and longevity. An “extemporaneous” wine — as its name suggests — that respects time and turns it into complexity and emotion.

“This is a wine we care deeply about – says Gianni Venica – it represents us and tells our winemaking story. Seeing it awarded at such a high level is confirmation that intuition, combined with respect for the land and a desire to innovate, can lead to extraordinary results.”

The award ceremony took place on Saturday, October 4, at the Hotel Principe di Savoia in Milan, in the presence of Daniele Cernilli, founder of DoctorWine and one of Italy’s most authoritative wine tasters.

Ornella Venica’s words during the award ceremony

“For me and for the whole Venica family, it is a great honor to receive this important award, which I feel as recognition of 95 years of Venica&Venica history, in the heart of Dolegna del Collio, the northernmost village of this extraordinary land on the border with Slovenia.
A land that, rightly so, can be considered the place where Sauvignon, an international grape variety, has found a distinctive and highly appreciated Italian style.

It is equally meaningful for me to receive it from the hands of Daniele Cernilli, a great master taster I have known since the 1990s, who knows how to tell our everyday stories and make the world of wine truly special.

Finally, I also see this award as a passing of the torch to the fourth generation of our family: an encouragement to continue with dedication and passion towards new achievements.

Thank you from the heart”.

The value of time and family: our roots, our future

Along with the title of “Italy’s Best White Wine of the Year” for the Collio Sauvignon Extempore 2019, the Essential Guide to the Wines of Italy 2026 also awarded Venica&Venica three more prizes: “Best Wine from Sauvignon Grapes” and “Three Faces” for Extempore 2019, plus “One Face” for Ronco delle Mele.

Behind these achievements stand four generations of winegrowers who have believed — and continue to believe — in the Collio and its extraordinary vocation for white wines, especially Sauvignon.

From the first vineyards of our grandparents, from mixed farming and the family tavern, to the constant pursuit of new expressions, time is our secret ingredient: the one that gives depth, structure, and identity to every bottle.