GERARD DEPARDIEU: “MY DREAM IS TO HAVE A SMALL VINEYARD IN FRIULI, PERHAPS WITH MY FRIEND AND WINEMAKER ROLAND MICHEL”, SAYS THE FRENCH ACTOR WITH AN ITALIAN HEART. “FRIULIAN WINE IS THE MOST ELEGANT IN THE WORLD”

Gerard Depardieu is a great admirer of Italy and dreams of having “a small vineyard in Friuli” together with his friend and winemaker, Michel Roland. The French actor spoke today at Vinitaly, as testimonial for the Friuli Venezia Giulia region. Depardieu, who produces wine in France, explained that he has a fondness for Italy, especially Sicily, where he produces an excellent Passito, in Pantelleria. Now, however, that he has become acquainted with Friuli (“This territory, this region is a masterpiece” he told the Vice-President of the Region Luca Ciriani) and its “Friulano” wine (“it is the most elegant wine in Italy”), he is flirting with the idea of owning a vineyard there. To have a great wine,” he said “the earth must be poor so the roots have to search into its depths to find life and strength. And one must have passion and courage to wait for the harvest. It is an appointment with your inner self, it’s magical”.
“This is the energy that radiates in Friuli and its people,” says Depardieu “a miracle of Italy” a small, but great region: small in size and great for the people who live there and the products it offers”. The actor, gourmet and wine lover would like to plant vines here and when asked about his plans, he responded: “It’s a project. We’ll see but I’d really like to do it”. With an excellent Italian accent and an air of amusement, the star of many films explained that he “has come to know Italy thanks to the dozens of films that I’ve made here and that’s how I learned to love and appreciate the country, the warmth of its people, its cuisine and its wines. I like wine that is peaceful, that does not get you drunk, that tells you the story of its land and its people.” The French actor will also lead a blind tasting in which he will select his “top white wine” of Vinitaly, and before leaving he launched a provocation on the dispute between Friuli and Hungary (won by the latter) on the use of the name Tocai. “Why,” - he said, addressing the Vice-President of the Region – “not produce Tocai just to annoy Hungary?”

Curiosity - Depardieu names Zuani Vigne di Patrizia Felluga “Top White Wine 2010” of Friuli Venezia Giulia “The highest exaltation of the senses” is how Gerard Depardieu defines the” Zuani Vigne” by Patrizia Felluga, naming it “Top White Wine 2010” of Friuli Venezia Giulia, at the blind tasting conducted by the actor among a selection of wines made of white indigenous grapes proposed by Doc consortiums. I chose this fruity wine,” said Depardieu “particularly remarkable for its freshness. I also want to pay tribute to all the great whites proposed by the consortiums, which are the real top white wines in the world, for me.”
For the French actor, “each single tasting confirmed the excellence of these products. A quality that undoubtedly comes from the unique geography of this region, a land that is not too rich but ideal for a good white, and also the extreme respect with which farmers treat it, producing real masterpieces”.