PINZANO (PORDENONE) – The community of Pinzano al Tagliamentobut more generally that of the province of Pordenone, mourns the passing, at the age of 86, of Emilio Bulfon considered by many to be the father of native Friulian vines. The entrepreneur’s death was announced by his wife Noemi and his children Alberta and Lorenzo: the funeral will be celebrated on Friday, at 2.30 pm, in the Pieve di Valeriano. A non-random choice, given that the Bulfon company logo and label are inspired by a fresco in the Church of Santa Maria dei Battuti in Valeriano, which depicts the Last Supper.
THE GOALS
The Friulian producer was known in Italian and local viticulture for the work carried out in safeguarding an endangered genetic heritage, which began as early as 1964 in the Spilimbergo hills. Bulfon, combining innovation and valorisation of the territory, brought ancient and renowned vines back to life, starting a first production which already proved to be of great qualitative and commercial interest in the 1980s. A work that led him to win numerous medals at Vinitaly, awards at various other events and to be awarded, in 2010, the honor of “Meritorious of Italian viticulture”. With his winery, over the last four decades Bulfon has managed to rewrite the history of the sector by recovering ancient native varieties of vines from western Friuli, such as Ucelut, Piculit-Neri, Sciaglin, Forgiarin, Cividin, Cjanorie and Cordenossa.
THE REBIRTH
The passion of the producer has given rise to these vines which, with the scientific support of bodies and institutions, have not only been identified, studied, selected and replanted, but also introduced into the National Catalog of vines in 1992 and have obtained, after a long process, the PGI recognition. The company, which has also been qualified by Ersa as an educational farm, has been a member of the wine tourism movement for decades; is associated with the Consortium for the protection of Doc Friuli Grave wines, with the EnoPordenone producers’ association and with the Donne del vino association (Friuli Venezia Giulia Delegation).
THE MEMORY
Among the many who remembered Bulfon’s work was the secretary of the Pact for Autonomy, Massimo Moretuzzo. «He was a passionate, curious and tenacious winemaker, who deserves credit for the rediscovery and recovery of ancient Friulian vines that seemed to have disappeared. A pioneering research that led to the official recognition of these vines, children of a land rich in history, art and nature. With awareness and a constant commitment to promoting biodiversity, Bulfon has challenged the excessive power of commercial homologation by focusing on identity; an important work from the point of view of wine culture and the protection of memory.”
MAYOR
«He leaves us a charismatic character – recalled the mayor of Pinzano, Emiliano De Biasio – whose work, I am sure, will be carried forward by the family. For them, viticulture is not just an industrial action, but one of scenic beauty that enhances our territory.”
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