Future and Innovation THE FRIULIAN HAS ALREADY GOT IT ALL FIGURED OUT Matteo Bellotto A new generation of winemakers is experimenting with contemporary interpretations of this historic and quintessentially regional grape variety. The wine has evolved from a robust mouthfeel to a light and elegant drinking experience, whilst remaining at no more than 13 per cent alcohol W hat if simply observing were really enough? We might say, with a little imagination, that many of the changes, problems, shifts in habits and consumption patterns are perfectly visible and have already been foreshadowed by the wine that, more than any other, manages to represent the voice of the land where it is born: Friulano. For some years now, in many wineries across our region, we have been witnessing a generational shift, with young winemakers both men and women stepping onto the world stage and successfully asserting their own ideas and visions, born of studies and in-depth analysis shaped by a different perspective on the world. Those who have been open to these new perspectives are already bringing about a change in the character of the wines and in their ability to anticipate contemporary tastes and consumption patterns. These are, indeed, contemporary wines, unbound by the need to be made in a certain way and, above all, unbound by the dictates of the market. It is often pointed out sometimes ad nauseam that wine consumption is on the decline, with the blame for this trend being shifted back and forth, and all too often ending up being laid at the feet of the younger generation, accused of a lack of interest in a drink considered old-fashioned . However, when speaking with new winemakers, this does not seem to be the picture at all. Enrolment on courses for aspiring sommeliers shows no sign of decline, yet consumption is indeed falling. 6