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Company Description
Vigne del Malina: A Family Story
The winery is young but proudly rooted in the past.
In the first half of the last century, many enterprising young men from Friuli, including Alberto Bacchetti, set off for “Little Venice,” Venezuela, seeking fortune and a fresh start. The decision proved wise, and after achieving significant success in the steel industry, the Bacchetti family decided to return to their homeland. Back in their beloved Friuli, they purchased Villa Pasini Vianelli in 1967, reigniting their passion for viticulture, a love that had always remained in their hearts. Thus, Vigne del Malina was born.
The pioneer, father of the current owner, began producing wine for himself, his family, and a few close friends—clean, genuine wines, free of adulteration, meant to be stored in the cellar and allowed to age without haste. This slow aging process, along with a commitment to excellence and sound principles, is what his son Roberto has upheld and elevated over the years.
In 2007, the winery underwent a complete renovation.
In 2023, the third generation entered the winery, with Erica joining her father in continuing the story of Vigne del Malina. The company is in constant evolution, brimming with new projects. In 2024, the family will launch an agritourism venture with a restaurant offering a unique menu concept inspired by the choice of wines. The dishes reflect local traditions and are prepared almost exclusively with ingredients sourced from Friuli Venezia Giulia. Further developments are planned for 2025, including accommodations for overnight stays with breakfast. Vigne del Malina is always evolving, just like its wines.
About the Vineyards and the Stream
This region, nestled between the Alps and the Adriatic Sea, is particularly rich in waterways. Among these are the Malina and Ellero streams, which, in one special part of the Grave, have unexpectedly formed the shape of a wine glass. This is the home of Vigne del Malina, whose vineyards take root in the ancient bed of the Malina stream, from which the winery derives its name.
The land is typical of the stony terrain of the Friulan Grave, located along the eastern bank of the Malina stream. The setting is the serene countryside of Orzano, a hamlet of Remanzacco, between Udine and Cividale del Friuli.
The “Grave” region covers a large area from Pordenone to Udine, characterized by stony, alluvial soils that create a unique habitat with distinctive features and a special microclimate.
Cool breezes from the pre-Alpine valleys provide natural ventilation, while the stones absorb the heat of the day and release it slowly at night. This natural temperature variation is a key factor in developing the characteristic aromas and flavors of the wines from this area.
The vineyards are cultivated using the Guyot method, following organic agricultural principles with low ecological impact. This includes frequent manual interventions and the exclusion of chemical weed control. Six varieties are currently grown: Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso.
Vigne del Malina wines can be described as “wines of time” because every step in the production process safeguards longevity: meticulous pruning to preserve the best canes, rigorous thinning to ensure each vine bears no more than one kilogram of grapes for optimal ripening, and exclusively manual harvesting, often so late that it narrowly precedes the arrival of wasps, allowing for slight withering to maximize nutrient concentration.
This philosophy also involves the difficult decision not to harvest during unfavorable years when the grapes are unfit to become another “wine of time.”
The winery spans about ten hectares of land, producing approximately 45,000 bottles of Vigne del Malina wines each year. These 45,000 bottles each come with a story, as quality—in both production and storytelling—requires patience.
The Wines of Time
Wine is, first and foremost, a creation of nature, shaped by time and weather.
Weather—unpredictable by its very nature—plays a decisive role. The abundance or scarcity of rain, the gentle warmth of spring that turns into the scorching heat of summer, the drying winds that nurture as much as they dehydrate… These uncontrollable forces define the life of the vineyards and their fruit, making each vintage unique. No two years are ever the same.
Then there is time—the present that slips into the past, the slow unfolding of seasons, and the years that pass. Time allows the wine to evolve, to develop its full bouquet and flavor, and to reveal its finest character. The wine becomes the expression of the seasons that shaped it. And as years go by, every vintage changes, growing in complexity. This too is certain.
For consistency, each wine is produced in purity. The vineyards, located next to the winery, are owned by the estate—no grapes are ever purchased. Every stage of winemaking, from pressing to bottling, aging, and labeling, takes place on-site.
Our wines are “wines of time.” Every step of the production process is designed to preserve their longevity: meticulous pruning to nurture the best shoots, rigorous thinning of the bunches to ensure that each vine bears no more than one kilogram of grapes for optimal ripening, and strictly manual harvesting, often so late in the season that it narrowly precedes the arrival of wasps. In keeping with this philosophy, we also make the difficult decision not to harvest in years when the grapes fail to meet the standard required to produce another “wine of time.”
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