Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy

Simon di Brazzan

Simon di Brazzan is a family-owned estate in Brazzano di Cormons, where Friuli meets Slovenia. Led by Daniele Drius, the estate farms approximately 17 hectares across the Collio and Isonzo DOC appellations. The family’s agricultural roots date to 1913, when Daniele’s great-grandparents began acquiring the land they had previously worked as sharecroppers.

After studying agriculture, Daniele joined his grandparents and redirected the estate toward quality rather than yield. .

Chemical treatments were abandoned more than 25 years ago in favor of natural alternatives. Daniele has also practiced biodynamic farming for over a decade. The estate has been certified organic since the 2016 vintage.

In the cellar, Daniele works alongside longtime consulting winemaker Natale Favretto. Their approach combines precision with minimal intervention: low sulfur additions, careful work according to the biodynamic calendar, and vinifications designed to build texture without sacrificing varietal or regional identity.

Rooted in Friuli’s borderland culture, Simon di Brazzan works with native varieties such as Friulano and Malvasia Istriana, alongside Pinot Grigio, Pinot Bianco, Sauvignon, Traminer, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, offering an honest and highly individual expression of the soils and climate of northeastern Italy.