How Do Locals Buy Wine in Trieste?
If you’re interested in vino sfuso Trieste, congratulations! You’ve discovered the secret to buying wine like a local in Trieste, Italy. The vino sfuso or vini sfusi are bulk wine shops that sell quality wines by the liter at discount prices.
But, before you go, you need to know a couple of basic things about the local wines. We spent some time researching the local wines ahead of time. We’ve included a summary below.
Also, if you really want to do it like a local, you should take a bottle with you to get filled. An empty 1-liter water bottle is perfect. But don’t worry, if you don’t have a bottle, you can buy one at the wine shop.
When you return for more, just bring your rinsed bottle, and they will refill it. It’s a great way to reduce your environmental impact.
Vino Sfuso Trieste
There are several bulk wine shops in Trieste! All of them sell numerous different local wine varietals. Here is a list of the shops that are nearest to the Old City:
Enoteca Hortis
Enoteca Hortis has a large selection of local wines by the bottle and for bulk purchase.
Address: Piazza Attilio Hortis, 2/A, 34123 Trieste TS, Italy
Eataly Trieste
Eataly Trieste has a very large selection of Italian wines by the bottle. It also has a limited selection of bulk wines available.
Address: Riva Tommaso Gulli, 1, 34123 Trieste TS, Italy
Da Michele
Da Michele Vini Sfusi is located in Mercato Coperto Trieste.
Address: Via Giosuè Carducci, 36, 34125 Trieste TS, Italy
La Cantinetta Trieste
Address: Piazza Edmondo Puecher, 9, 34100 Trieste TS, Italy
Spaccio Vini Cantine Rigonat
Spaccio Vini Cantine Rigonat Vini Sfusi in Trieste, Italy
Address: Via Conti, 34, 34141 Trieste TS, Italy
Useful Information About Wines in Friuli–Venezia Giulia
Most bulk wine shops (excluding the top two on this list) are primarily selling to locals. Because they are not part of the traditional tourist industry, the owners and employees do not always speak English. For this reason, it helps to know what you’re looking for when you go in. Don’t get me wrong, you don’t need to speak Italian, and you don’t need to be a sommelier, but you increase your chances of success with a bit of information.
The bulk wine shops have a wide variety of wines. Most are local wines from Friuli–Venezia Giulia. Importantly, bulk wines are often identified by the grape variety rather than the wine varietal. Consequently, it helps to know what grapes are used to produce the common wines.
White Grapes
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- Friulano
- Pinot Grigio
- Glera
- Ribolla Gialla
- Picolit
- Verduzzo
Red Grapes
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- Merlot
- Refosco
- Pignolo
- Schioppettino
- Tazzelenghe
If you get lucky, you might find bulk wines identified by the wine varietal. Here’s a list of the most common.
Sparkling Wines
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- Prosecco
White Wines
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- Friulano
- Pinot Grigio
- Malvasia Venezia Giulia
Red Wines
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- Refosco
- Merlot
- Cabernet Franc
- Cabernet Sauvignon
Check out the Trieste Wine page for more information about these grapes varieties and wine varietals.
Useful Italian words for Bulk Wine Shopping
Shopping at the local Italian bulk wine shop is not a tourist activity but a local activity. Our experience with the local bulk wine shop owners is that they sometimes speak limited English. Although we speak limited Italian, we have always been successful and left the shop carrying the type of wine we wanted.
Our experience has been universally positive, with everyone being extremely kind and patient. But, there are a few Italian words that will make it much easier:
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- Red Wine – Vino Rosso
- White Wine – Vino Bianco
- Semi-Sparking Wine – Frizzante
- Dry – Secco
- Sweet – Dolce
- Bulk Wine– Vini Sfusi
- One liter – Un litro
- Two liters – Due litri
- Bottle – bottiglia
- Please – Per favore
- Thank you very much – Grazie mille!
Map of Bulk Wine Shops in Trieste
Enoteca Hortis and Eataly Trieste are conveniently located in the historic district. Da Michele (located in Mercato Coperto Trieste), La Cantinetta Trieste, and Spaccio Vini Cantine Rigonat are located a little further away, but are worth a visit if you’re looking for a bargain.