Ucelut is a white grape variety, native to Friuli-Venezia Giulia, whose origins, as often happens in small Italian winemaking traditions, remain unclear. It belongs to the so-called “uccelline” grapes, which grow naturally at the edge of woods and are particularly sought after by birds, hence the name. The Ucelut has been cultivated for centuries throughout Friuli, where it was once widely grown. Today, however, it finds few supporters, with limited cultivation in Castelnovo del Friuli and Pinzano, in the Pordenone province.
This grape thrives in clay and rocky soils typical of the region, using spur-pruned cordon training systems. Its ripening is relatively late, occurring from late September to early October. Due to its limited role in the national wine scene, little is known about its vegetative cycle.
The Ucelut is rarely vinified as a single-varietal wine and is mainly used in blends within Friulian IGT wines. In the rare cases where it is vinified in purity, it produces dry wines with good structure, featuring floral aromas such as acacia blossoms and wildflowers. On the palate, it is soft, with notable sapidity and freshness. The wine has a pale straw-yellow color. It is also vinified as a sweet wine, using overripe or slightly dried grapes, and shows potential for aging in wood barrels.
