The valley of the River Isonzo opens its world of Grand DOC Wines, made by wine-producers renowned for their high quality standards. A special universe, founded on the p erfect harmony of elegant flavours and full tastes, linked to the organolectic varietal characteristics. The Consorzio per la Tutela e la Valorizzazione dei Vini DOC Isonzo (Consortium for Protection and Appreciation of Isonzo DOC Wines) has guaranteed the excellence and peculiarities of the area since 1974. 110 are the members of the Consortium today; among them the best bottling factories of Friuli and the most important wine-growers and producers in the Gorizia Province. In order to specify the environmental peculiarities of Isonzo region, the Consortium made close zonation studies. Two homogeneous areas were defined, divided by the river: on its left side, soils are rich of clay and red gravel, not very calcareous, whereas white gravel makes the soils on the right side very calcareous. The unifying element is nevertheless the river: it constantly marks the ground with its floods and riverbed shifts that add noble organic substances to the soil. The temperature is optimal for agriculture: the sea works as thermoregulator; the mountains surrounding the valley prevent cool northern winds to blow. Both black and white grapes grow perfectly: they give structure and colour to red wines - intense and velvety - to whites the most smart and harmonious aroma.